Prices of concession passes for polytechnic students to be halved

SINGAPORE — Polytechnic students got what they clamoured for yesterday when the Public Transport Council (PTC) announced that they will enjoy the same monthly concession pass (MCP) rates as their peers in secondary schools, junior colleges and the Institute of Technical Education.

From April 6, the prices of concession passes for polytechnic students — numbering about 80,000 currently — will be halved as part of the enhanced concession schemes unveiled by the PTC.

Under the enhancements, the daily limit of four rides for train and hybrid concession passes will also be removed to bring them in line with the unlimited rides currently allowed for bus concession passes. Children who are below the age of seven and not attending a primary school will be able to travel for free with a concession card. In all, almost half a million commuters will benefit from the enhanced schemes, including senior citizens and full-time National Servicemen (NSFs).

Speaking to reporters yesterday, PTC Chairman Gerard Ee said the concessions are meant to ensure fares remain affordable.

“All these enhancements are expected to benefit approximately half a million of the current 1.2 million existing concession beneficiaries and these are on top of the two new concession schemes for lower-wage workers and people with disabilities that would be separately implemented by the Government,” he said.

Fare concessions for polytechnic students have long been overdue. Previously, polytechnic students had written several letters to the press questioning their adult fare rates and several Members of Parliament have also argued for such concessions in the past few years.

The changes mean MCP prices for polytechnic students will be slashed by 44 to 47 per cent to S$27.50 for a bus pass and S$25 for a train pass. Hybrid MCPs will be priced at S$51, instead of the current S$97.

All other student hybrid MCPs will also see price reductions of between 3 and 12 per cent, a move that will benefit about 150,000 riders.

Polytechnic students whom TODAY spoke to welcomed the concession enhancements.

Mr Ariani Bte Adam, a second-year student at Republic Polytechnic, holds a bus pass but said he would not mind taking up the hybrid pass now that it is cheaper.

“Some of us have part-time jobs far from school so train rides can be useful for us,” said the 18-year-old mass communication student. “A fare increase of only a few cents can amount to a large amount of money if you look at it monthly or annually.”

Second-year occupational therapy student Nurul Farida said the MCP should be a fair initiative for all students alike. “I used to be in JC and when I went to poly, I forked out twice the fare. It didn’t make sense because we’re in the same line of education … it’s not like all poly students have their own source of income to pay so much for the fares.”

Mr Josiah Neo, a second-year mass communication student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, does not use a concession pass. He said he spends about S$20 to S$30 a week on transport, which comes up to about S$100 a month.

“Now, I’m definitely saying yes to concession passes. It’s so much more affordable for students. I see it as a 60 per cent discount,” said the 18-year-old.