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Salient. Victoria University Students' Newspaper. Volume Number 39, Issue 5. March 29 [1976]

Student Protest Against Withdrawal of Bus Passes

Student Protest Against Withdrawal of Bus Passes

Over 1,000 students took to the street on 9th Feb. '76 in protest against the sudden withdrawal of their bus concession passes in January 1976. The students were from 7 of the institutes run by the Industrial Training Board (ITB). The concession passes are issued to pupils under 19 years of age, in a government or government aided schools. Most of the students of ITB are under 19 and join the vocational institutes after primary six or during early secondary school years. These students are usually from poor families. The withdrawal forced them to pay bus fares which they just cannot afford From $4 a month, their transport costs shoot up to as much as $1.40 a day. Some students are even forced to go without any lunch because they cannot obtain any more pocket money.

The busfare problem affected every vocational student deeply. They wrote in to SBS (Singapore Bus Service) but received no reply. Many students in some institutes boycotted classes and demonstrated [unclear: within] [unclear: then] [unclear: schools]. [unclear: many] [unclear: when] [unclear: an] [unclear: appears] [unclear: and] protest proved to be useless, the students had no choice but to bring to public attention. Students from about 7 Vocational Institutes took part in the protest. They were mostly from Pasir Panjang, Jurong, Gey Iang, Serai, Singapore, Pongol, Bukit Merah and Bharuddin Vocational Institutes. Apart from the withdrawal of the concession passes, the SBS is considering the introduction of flat rate fares of 30c and 50c. The present bus fares are 20c, 30c, 40c, 50c, which was introduced in 1974. Before that, the minimum fare was only 10c.

(source: The Straits Times 10-2-76

New Nation 11-2-76

Press Release by USSU & SPSU 10-2-76)

Editorial Note: 60% of the working population in Singapore earn less than $250 per month. A survey carried out by the NTUC (National Trade Union Congress) of Singapore 2 years ago also indicated that the minimum cost of living for a family of 4 persons was $280. The increase of busfares to a flat rate of 30c and 50c if implemented would adversely affect the lower income groups.