Govt to temporarily cover 13% of fare revenue for school buses, disability transport operators

The government will temporarily cover 13 per cent of transport fare revenues for school bus and care transport operators.

This is part of efforts to help essential transport services cope with higher fuel costs arising from the conflict in the Middle East, said the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), and Ministry of Health (MOH) in a joint press release on Apr. 9.

Temporary support for transport operators

The temporary support is meant to ensure that access to transport services is not disrupted for school students, seniors, patients, and persons with disabilities, the ministries said.

It will apply to services provided from April to June 2026.

During this period, MOE, MSF, and MOH will provide support equivalent to 13 per cent of transport fare revenues.

This will help to defray the increase in operational costs arising from higher fuel prices, they said.

In view of this support, operators are expected to keep fares stable during this period.

The ministries acknowledged that transport fares may still need to rise later if fuel prices remain elevated.

Support for school bus operators

For the school bus sector, MOE will provide support to operators serving primary schools and special education (SPED) schools.

This will also give parents and caregivers more time to adjust transport arrangements if fares eventually rise, should fuel prices remain high.

Students under MOE’s Financial Assistance Scheme will continue receiving subsidies covering 70 per cent of monthly school bus fares.

Students who require additional help, or who do not qualify for the scheme, may approach their schools for assistance.

SPED students who qualify for MSF’s Enabling Transport Subsidy will also continue receiving support for school bus fares through SG Enable.

Those who need further help may similarly approach their schools.

Disability and long-term care transport also covered

The ministries will also provide support to disability and long-term care transport operators.

These include social service agencies running MSF-funded disability services that use the Enabling Transport Subsidy for client transport, including day activity centres and sheltered workshops.

The agencies must pass the grant on to their contracted transport operators, the ministries stressed.

For healthcare transport, MOH said support will also go to long-term care and community dialysis providers offering regular transport for seniors and patients, including senior care centres, medical escort and transport operators, day hospices, and community dialysis centres.

Subsidies will be increased soon

Subsidies for long-term care services, including transport, will be enhanced from July 2026, with further details to be provided to operators by end-April.

The Enabling Transport Subsidy, which supports clients of disability services, will be enhanced in the same month.

The announcement comes two days after Jeffrey Siow said in parliament that the government would temporarily co-fund cost increases for certain essential bus services for school students, seniors and persons with disabilities, as petrol and diesel prices rise sharply alongside global oil prices.

Top images via sgapsn/Instagram