APPOINTMENT OF SCHOOL BUS OPERATORS

APPOINTMENT OF SCHOOL BUS OPERATORS:

(Criteria): 14.

Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Education what are the criteria used by schools to appoint bus operators to transport students.

The Senior Minister of State for Education (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien): Mr Speaker, Sir, safety and well-being of pupils have always been the top priority when schools select school bus operators. Schools are guided by the following criteria in the selection of school bus operators:

Firstly, schools will select operators who comply with all safety measures as stipulated by LTA for the safe transportation of pupils. These safety measures require the operators to ensure that there is no overcrowding and no standing passengers on the bus. These operators are to provide bus drivers who would adhere to the speed limit of 60 km/h. They will also have to ensure that their buses that are less than 10 years old pass the compulsory annual inspections while those that are more than 10 years old pass the half-yearly inspections.

Schools also require a bus attendant be provided for each bus with more than 30 seating capacity. The bus attendant

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would oversee orderly behaviour by pupils and that safety measures are adhered to by pupils. They also assist pupils in embarking and alighting from the bus. Schools also select bus operators on the basis that they are able to provide the necessary services to the school in terms of number of buses, area of coverage, proposed route plan, pick-up and drop-off time and other operation services as required by the schools. Selection is also based on the charges offered at competitive prices that can best serve the pupils and schools.

Er Lee Bee Wah: Sir, I would like to ask two supplementary questions. Are the seat belts requirements spelt out by the schools when they call for tender? We notice that those school buses that fetch international school students have seat belts, but most of the buses fetching the local students do not have. There is a double standard. The second question: what is her view of a row of seats for two students but squeezing in three students? Is there any compromise on the safety?

Mr Speaker: You have two minutes left, Ms Fu.

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Mr Speaker, I do not wish to continue the debate on school bus safety from MOT to MOE. Safe to say – sorry for the pun – that we do follow the safety requirements as set by LTA on school buses. We allow the selection of school bus operators to the schools for the principal reason that there are different requirements set by the schools. Some of the parents have specific requirements that are best met by each of the individual schools to tailor the service level that they require by the operators.

3.00 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question Time.

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[Pursuant to Standing Order No. 22(3), Written Answers to Question Nos. 15-16, 18-23, 25-27 and 32-33 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix*. Question Nos. 17, 24, 28-31 and 34-36 have been postponed to the next available sitting of Parliament.]

*Cols. 2767-2786.