For three years (Pri 1 to Pri 3), she used to take the school bus service for only one way (from school to my sister's home at Yishun St 81).

During that time, the school bus service charged $30 a month even if she only travelled one way. At times when she had to stay back in school for CCA, arrangements were made by the school and the bus service for pick-ups at 3.30pm and 5.30pm to send the students back but only at a few designated drop-off points. And the students would have to pay 50 cents each for these arranged timings.

Any student can take the bus at these arranged times as long as they pay 50 cents and it is not restricted to those who take the school bus every day.

My daughter has stopped taking the school bus as they had increased the charges from $30 to $35 (16 per cent jump) this year. The reason: increase in the price of oil and petrol.

Last Friday, when she took the bus at 3.30pm, they informed her that the charges had increased from $0.50 to $1. I was shocked as it is a 100 per cent increase. It is even more costly than public transport for a student. Furthermore, the distance from the school to the few designated drop-off points is short.

I feel that the bus association and the school should look into this price hike. There needs to be some form of control for such pricing just like public transport.

Kor Eng Hoon (Mdm)