Concession fares - NUS, NTU, SMU and SIM, we're all students but...

Why discriminate on concession fares, asks student. -ST

Sun, Aug 16, 2009
The Straits Times

I AM probably not the first reader to write about this, and I do not think I will be the last either.

I understand that students in the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU) are issued with an ez-link concession card on entry to the school. However, that is not the case for the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM).

Why am I different because I study in SIM? I am still a student.

I also understand that most, if not all, foreign students studying in the three universities are issued with an ez-link concession cards. As a citizen and a full-time student, am I not entitled to the same privileges as other tertiary students?

I understand SIM is a private institution with many working adults who enrol in part-time courses. But there are also many full-time students. As full-time students, many of us do not have the time to take a part-time job that will pay significantly more than the allowances parents may give their children who study in the three universities.

No doubt there is the new ez-link season pass, or the SBS season pass, but they cost more than a student can afford. Furthermore, students in some private institutions such as Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and LaSalle College of the Arts can apply for ez-link concession cards. So what about full-time students of SIM?






Finally finallyyy finallyyyy my prayers are PARTLY answered. i share the same sentiments as Charles You and i wonder and ponder what will goverment do about it. And trust me, this isn't the only thing that i'm unhappy about. No doubt i've graduated and met awesome awesome friends there, but there are also other rights denied as a SIM student. i can go on and on about this. But i still feel strongly about certain things. Maybe i am too afraid to voice out or maybe i am just going with the flow, and Charles You, i salute you for voicing it out cos its time for a damn change. "bumiputras or not, we are still Lee Kuan Yew's great great great grandchildren."