Data on School Bus Fares for Primary School Children and Ensuring Affordability of Fares

53 Ms Valerie Lee asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry can provide data on the school bus fares for primary school children over the past five years; (b) what measures are currently implemented to help make school bus fares more affordable; and (c) whether the Ministry is considering introducing additional measures to further reduce or manage school bus fares in the future.

Mr Desmond Lee: School bus fares are determined through a competitive bidding process and contracts usually last two years or more. For new school bus contracts that commenced in 2025, the average increase in bus fares from 2024 was 7% for trips up to 2km and 1% for longer trips of beyond 2km to 4km.

Low-income families under the Ministry of Education (MOE) Financial Assistance Scheme receive a subsidy for primary school students taking the school bus fares. This subsidy was raised from 60% of monthly school bus fares to 65% in January 2023. For those who need more help, schools will continue to provide additional financial support beyond the school bus subsidy.

The Government has implemented measures to help school bus operators keep their operating costs low, so they can offer more affordable bus fares. For example, school buses are exempted from Certificate of Entitlement requirements. Private Hire and Excursion Bus operators who use their buses to provide school bus services are eligible for a 50% road tax rebate by the Land Transport Authority. Eligible school bus operators are also provided with additional foreign worker quotas to help them recruit sufficient drivers.

MOE will continue to closely monitor the school bus fare situation and step up financial support, if necessary.