Graduating students concessionary to pay fares for 4 months after their studies

Move will help about 75,000 students entering next phase of education yearly

- Esther Loi and Fatmah Khan

From Dec 28, graduating students entering their next phase of education or the workforce can pay concessionary fares on public buses and trains for four months after their studies.

The Public Transport Council (PTC) said on Sept 9 that this will benefit about 75,000 students from institutions such as secondary schools, junior colleges, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnics every year.

The council said the move will help students and their families manage the transition between stages of their education, such as for secondary school students enrolling in the ITE or polytechnics.

The extension of four months will be granted to graduating students whose concession eligibility ends on or after Dec 28.

It will apply to graduating students between two educational stages or those transitioning out of student concessionary benefits, such as junior college (JC) students going to university, added the PTC.

At present, secondary school graduates will have to pay adult fares before they progress to a JC, polytechnic or ITE.

They can still pay concessionary fares for an extra month after they leave secondary school, till the end of January.