Monitoring Performance Standards of School Bus Operators

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry oversees operational performance standards for school bus operators; (b) if so, what are the standards; and (c) what are the price and non-price factors that are being determined in the awarding of school bus operators by schools, including special education schools.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) sets the performance requirements for school bus operators serving mainstream schools. These requirements cover safety protocols, service reliability and overall service quality standards. Individual schools work closely with their appointed bus operators to ensure that these standards are met. The social service agencies work with the special education (SPED) schools to establish standards for school bus operators serving SPED schools, while ensuring the performance requirements can meet the specific transportation needs of students attending SPED schools. All bus operators must also comply with statutory and regulatory requirements, including those mandated by the Land Transport Authority.

Both mainstream and SPED schools select bus operators through a competitive bidding process and award contracts to the operators that best meet their needs. The competitiveness of bus fares is one of the key evaluation factors considered by schools. Other non-price factors include operators' good track records, fleet capacity and ability to serve different residential areas.