SINGAPORE - The Public Transport Council has asked public transport operators to consider extending student concessions to all full-time students in universities, polytechnics and Institutes of Technical Education, even if they are receiving some form of income.

Announcing this in Parliament on Wednesday, Senior Minister of State (Transport) Josephine Teo added that the operators are considering the request.

She was responding to Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng, who had asked why students receiving allowances from organisations are ineligible for the Tertiary Student Concession Card.

"Students who are receiving some form of income, for example from companies which employ them, have traditionally been deemed to be financially independent and hence not eligible for student concession," said Mrs Teo.

But she added that the Council has asked operators to consider extending these concessions to students receiving some form of income, as "numbers are not large, and the distinction between them and other students who are receiving scholarships or bursary assistance, is not always clear".

Prior to this, the Council and operators have been "judicious" about who should get to enjoy concessions, as these concessions are crossed-subsidised by other commuters, she explained.