Wednesday 9 December 2015

Public transport concessions extended to private and home-school students

More students to enjoy transport concessions
Singaporeans taking tertiary courses, or pursuing N, O or A levels, at private schools can benefit
By Zhaki Abdullah, The Straits Times, 8 Dec 2015

Students taking tertiary courses at private schools such as the Singapore Institute of Management will soon enjoy the same public transport concessions as their peers in government institutions, following concessions to polytechnic students in 2014.

The concessions will be extended to Singapore citizens taking diploma or degree courses, with a course duration of at least 24 months, at private schools recognised by the Council for Private Education.


Also eligible for the concessions are Singapore citizens aged 20 and below who are pursuing their N, O or A levels, or the International Baccalaureate, at private schools.

Home-schooled students pursuing these qualifications are also eligible, as are those taking special education courses at private schools.

These concessions will be in the form of monthly passes for unlimited rides on buses and trains. These range from $27.50 a month for secondary-level students to $85 a month for undergraduates.

Even if they choose not to get the passes, secondary-level students can still enjoy lower prices for public transport trips via ez-link cards, though they will not enjoy unlimited rides.

TransitLink will update private schools on when students can apply for the concessions. Home-schooled students can contact TransitLink directly to apply.

There are currently 77,000 students pursuing tertiary education at private institutions, and 2,133 students sat their O levels last year as private candidates.

Concessionary fares were previously available mainly to students in government institutions, and to groups like primary-level pupils who are home-schooled or in private schools.

Ms Humairaa Abdul Kareem, 20, an undergraduate at Kaplan Higher Education Academy, said the concessions would not help her.

"I think that the concession pass prices should be lower," added Ms Humairaa, who said she spent less than $80 a month on transport, less than the $85 for an undergraduate monthly concession pass.


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