School bus fees to go up

SINGAPORE - School bus operators are expected to increase fees by between 10 and 20 per cent next year - due to the increase in oil and rubber prices, as well as insurance premiums.

Operators told MediaCorp that diesel prices have increased by up to 35 per cent since last year, hitting $1.46 per litre. And insurance premiums for a small 11-seater bus has more than doubled to about $2,000. For bigger buses, the increase has been between 35 and 50 per cent over last year.

They added that tyre prices have also increased by about 40 per cent over the last year and are expected to go up further.

The Singapore School Transportation Association (SSTA) said it was reasonable to expect operators to raise prices, given that school bus fees have been maintained at almost the same rate for about three years,

SSTA chairman Wong Ann Lin noted that the operators charge between $40 and $150 - depending on the distance - which was "still below cost".

"I think we are still considered as very practical," said Ms Wong.

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