I thank Mr Chong Ching Hoong for expressing his disappointment with the recent increase in school bus fares ('14 per cent hike in school bus fares too hefty', Dec 11).

I received two letters a week ago from my sons' school bus operator, ComfortDelgro Bus, stating that the fare next year will go up from $44 to $55 a month. This is a hefty 25 per cent increase, considering that I live in Pasir Ris and Meridian Primary School is just a five-minute walk away.

And in the months of January, July and September, the bus operator will collect an advance of an additional month's fare for the school holidays. This works out to $220 each in the three months for both my sons.

Crude oil prices have plunged to a four-year low of US$40 a barrel, petrol prices have been cut and Singapore Power has announced a reduction in electricity tariffs of up to 25 per cent. The world is in a financial crisis, with many facing the possibility of retrenchment and wage cuts. So why are school bus operators raising their fares?

In the letter to parents, it was also written: 'We submitted a revised fare to the school authorities and have been successfully awarded the current contract through open letter.'

To think that the school's authorities approved this unreasonable fare increase at such a time is shocking and disheartening.

Can the relevant authorities from both Meridian Primary School and ComfortDelgro Bus justify their decision to raise fares?

Carrie Tan (Ms)

This article was first published in The Straits Times on December 15, 2008.