We are parents of students at Holy Innocents' Primary School (HIPS) who are concerned about the current school bus fare and its affordability for families.

This petition is open to both parents who currently use the school bus service and parents who considered using the service but ultimately chose alternative transport because of the quoted fare.

Parents have already raised this concern directly with the school and with MOE. This petition reflects continued concern following that engagement, and is intended to demonstrate the scale of support behind it.

To better understand whether the current pricing is reasonably benchmarked, we independently compiled published school bus fares from 121 other primary schools, matched as closely as possible by distance band and bus size tier. We recognise that fares can vary due to various factors, however our school's current bus fare is significantly above the median fare in our survey, and the scale of the gap raises fair questions about how the fare was benchmarked.

For some parents, the school bus would be a convenient and preferred option for their children. However, when the cost is significantly higher than comparable school bus services, families may have little choice but to seek alternative arrangements. This affects not only affordability for current users, but also accessibility for families who might otherwise choose the service.

We are asking the school and MOE to:

Review the current school bus fare against the wider market data, with transparency on the methodology that determine the fare is competitive.
Work towards a fairer and more affordable pricing structure that remains sustainable for the operator, while making the service more accessible to families.

In support of this, we would also welcome:

Benchmarking of the fare against comparable schools and routes on a regular basis, not as a one-off exercise.
Consideration of whether a more affordable fare could increase utilisation of the school bus service, which would benefit both families and the long-term sustainability of the service for the operator.

We recognise and appreciate the important role that school bus operators and drivers play in ensuring our children travel safely to and from school. This petition is not intended to criticise them or the quality of their service. Our objective is fairness, transparency and affordability in how the fare is set.

If you are:

currently using the school bus service and are concerned about the fare, or
interested in using the school bus but chose an alternative because the quoted fare was too high,

we invite you to sign this petition.

A strong show of support from both current users and families who have been priced out of the service will demonstrate that this is a broader issue of affordability and accessibility, not an individual complaint, and one that deserves meaningful review.

What happens next: Signatures will be compiled and submitted to the HIPS and MOE. Names and contact details collected will be used only for the purpose of this petition, aggregated where possible, and will not be shared with third parties.

We hope that through constructive dialogue, a fair and sustainable school bus fee can be reached that works for families, students and the service provider.