Engaging Non-appointed School Bus Operators on Temporary Fuel Cost Support and Application of Fuel Surcharge Cap

Ms Gho Sze Kee asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry engages with school bus operators that are not officially appointed by public schools; (b) whether such operators benefited from the temporary fuel cost support provided from April to June 2026; and (c) whether the MOE-capped fuel surcharge framework from July 2026 will apply to these bus operators and the students they serve.

The Ministry of Education's (MOE's) temporary fuel cost support from April to June 2026 and the MOE-capped fuel surcharge framework from July 2026, apply to school bus operators appointed by Government and Government-aided primary schools, and Government and Community-funded Special Education schools. This includes sub-contractors engaged by these bus operators, ensuring that relief reaches all affected operators in the chain.

These measures do not extend to bus operators serving international or private schools, or those engaged directly by parents via private arrangement. Nonetheless, they are encouraged to take heed of the advisory by the Ministry of Trade and Industry on “Transparency and Independence of Fuel Surcharge for the Private Bus Operator Sector”, issued on 15 May 2026, which encourages operators and customers to work together in good faith to manage temporary cost pressures while maintaining sustainable transport services.