Singapore Chinese High School in talks with MOE over parking fee dilemma

SINGAPORE – Following the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) recent policy decision to impose parking charges at its schools, the Singapore Chinese High School has found itself in a dilemma as it mulls over how to implement the policy, given that some of its teachers are not civil servants.

The Singapore Chinese High School is the parent company of Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) and Hwa Chong International, and it owns the land in Bukit Timah where both schools are located. Some of its teachers are not civil servants as they were privately hired by the company. Aside from the two schools, the Bukit Timah premises – which cover 72 acres of land, approximately the size of 29 football fields – also houses two boarding schools.

A meeting between MOE and the Singapore Chinese High School has been scheduled for next Wednesday to discuss the matter. Mr Robson Lee, chairman of its board of directors, told TODAY that they “fully support the policy of the MOE”.

“As a private owner of the land, we however want to discuss with MOE how best to implement this policy,” he added.

Responding to queries, an MOE spokesperson said on Tuesday (April 10) that as per the Public Service Division (PSD) requirement, “all public officers need to pay market rate parking charges to ensure that all salaries are accounted for with no hidden benefits.”

Noting that the PSD’s directive extends to MOE officers working in non-government schools, the spokesperson said the parking charges would apply for Independent and Government-Aided schools “for consistency and parity within and across schools”.

The spokesperson added: “MOE has been engaging schools on the implementation details for the school parking policy through briefings and meetings. The upcoming meeting with representatives from the Chinese High School Board and Hwa Chong Institution is one such engagement.”

Teachers from HCI and its international school who spoke to TODAY on the condition of anonymity pointed out that it was unfair for privately-hired teachers to be subjected to the public service policy. They added that some of HCI’s teachers are also under Singapore Chinese High School’s employment, and not MOE.

A teacher in her 30s, who teaches at Hwa Chong International and regularly drives to work, suggested that the ministry and Singapore Chinese High School could agree on installing a gantry that distinguishes between civil servants and privately hired teachers based on their school passes. That way, the system could exempt privately hired teachers from the charges.

“We are hoping to get clarity on this because it cannot be a one size fits all kind of policy,” she added.

Another teacher at HCI, who is in his 40s and also drives to work, said the new parking policy has created some confusion among staff as the school sits on privately owned land.

He said that teachers who are civil servants should pay the parking charges for “consistency” as those in other schools do so, but that exemptions should be given to those who are privately hired.

Last month, it was announced that new parking charges will kick in from August 1 across all national schools, including junior colleges, following a policy review in accordance to civil service guidelines.

Teachers have to pay S$720 annually to park their car in uncovered lots, while covered lots cost S$960. Those who ride motorcycles have to pay S$123 yearly and S$135 respectively for uncovered and covered lots.

The review was triggered by the Auditor-General’s (AG) disapproval in 2015 of some educational institutions allowing their staff to park for free, or charging fees below the market rate, with the AG noting that such practices were “tantamount to providing hidden subsidies for vehicle parking”.

VARIED PARKING CHARGES FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS

Public officers currently pay between S$70 and S$220 per month in car park charges, and these are generally pegged at market rates based on factors such as location and charges at nearby commercial car parks, said a government spokesperson.

Aside from schools, season parking fees will also be imposed at six military camps and bases for permanent staff, in addition to the 10 military premises that currently have such charges. The fees will be S$120 per month for covered car parks, and S$90 per month for open-air car parks.

Public servants who currently pay for parking said that the charges at their workplaces are typically aligned with rates set by the Housing and Development Board, or landlords for commercial premises. All of them spoke to TODAY on the condition of anonymity.

A 30-year-old who works at the Economic Development Board (EDB), housed inside Raffles City Tower, forks out about S$240 a month for parking.

The EDB officer said: “While it would be nice for public servants to have subsidised rates, I honestly don’t think that is a fair expectation.”

Public servants at the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) told TODAY they spend about S$110 to S$120 a month for a sheltered parking lot at its headquarters at Gombak Drive. Non-sheltered lots costs about S$70 to S$90.

There is a waitlist as lots are limited, but TODAY understands that some officers opt to park for free at a public carpark outside the premises.

A Mindef employee told TODAY that while he empathised with teachers who work long hours, that was also the case for many other public servants, or employees outside the public service.