Poly students still want JC fare structure
Sun, Feb 22, 2009
The New Paper
By Gan Ling Kai
WITH the new public transport cuts, they will pay $2 to $4 less for their bus and train concession fares each month.
But poly students aren't cheering.
The one thing they want - to pay the same fares as their counterparts in junior colleges (JC) and the Institutes of Technical Education (ITE) - remains elusive.
The latter group of students pay lower fares than poly students.
Poly students are classified as tertiary students, together with full-time undergraduates and other diploma students from approved tertiary institutions.
Over the last few years, polytechnic students, their parents and several Members of Parliament have been pressing the PTC, transport operators and service company TransitLink - which runs the concession schemes - to review fares for polytechnic students.
But when the PTC announced lower public transport fares yesterday, it was a letdown for many poly students.
Ngee Ann Polytechnic student Sherlyn Teo, 17, said: "The drop (in fares) is good news, but it does not make a big difference to us.
"We are of the same age as JC students and are already paying more for our education, why should we also pay more for transport?"
Poly students pay higher school fees than JC students. The poor are taxed more than the rich !
Her schoolmate, Andy Soh, 18, suggested that age limits be imposed on older poly students so that younger students can enjoy the same fare rates as JC students.
In response to The New Paper's queries at the PTC press conference, chairman Gerard Ee said the council had already met with the service providers and a group of poly students.
He added that the focus of the current fare structure should benefit as many commuters as possible.
"Should there be a need, these specific concerns of poly students will be addressed next year." "The drop (in fares) is good news, but it does not make a big difference to us.
- Ngee Ann Polytechnic student Sherlyn Teo, 17 (right), who says that poly students want to pay the same fares as their counterparts in JCs and ITEs.
Sun, Feb 22, 2009
The New Paper
By Gan Ling Kai
WITH the new public transport cuts, they will pay $2 to $4 less for their bus and train concession fares each month.
But poly students aren't cheering.
The one thing they want - to pay the same fares as their counterparts in junior colleges (JC) and the Institutes of Technical Education (ITE) - remains elusive.
The latter group of students pay lower fares than poly students.
Poly students are classified as tertiary students, together with full-time undergraduates and other diploma students from approved tertiary institutions.
Over the last few years, polytechnic students, their parents and several Members of Parliament have been pressing the PTC, transport operators and service company TransitLink - which runs the concession schemes - to review fares for polytechnic students.
But when the PTC announced lower public transport fares yesterday, it was a letdown for many poly students.
Ngee Ann Polytechnic student Sherlyn Teo, 17, said: "The drop (in fares) is good news, but it does not make a big difference to us.
"We are of the same age as JC students and are already paying more for our education, why should we also pay more for transport?"
Poly students pay higher school fees than JC students. The poor are taxed more than the rich !
Her schoolmate, Andy Soh, 18, suggested that age limits be imposed on older poly students so that younger students can enjoy the same fare rates as JC students.
In response to The New Paper's queries at the PTC press conference, chairman Gerard Ee said the council had already met with the service providers and a group of poly students.
He added that the focus of the current fare structure should benefit as many commuters as possible.
"Should there be a need, these specific concerns of poly students will be addressed next year." "The drop (in fares) is good news, but it does not make a big difference to us.
- Ngee Ann Polytechnic student Sherlyn Teo, 17 (right), who says that poly students want to pay the same fares as their counterparts in JCs and ITEs.
