It has been revealed that the estimated revenue from charging teachers for parking will be $8 million to $10 million a year. I wonder what the revenue will be if the elected MPs do not get their SGD365 per year to park across all parts of Singapore perk? What amounts will we gain if the elected MPs pay what everyone else pays? Shouldn’t this figure not be disclosed too? Has it even been asked?
We are always being told that we have such a world class public transportation system, why don’t the elected MPs utilise this instead of driving? Driving is a luxury so if you want to drive to work, stump up for parking like everyone else!
Why hasn’t anyone raised the issue in Parliament of why the elected MPs should get the benefit of such discounted parking rates when teachers do not.
In the 2015 annual report, Auditor-General’s Office found that three education institutions did not impose charges or imposed below market rate charges for use of their car pars. In 2016, Ministry of Education pointed that AGO’s point of such practices being tantamount to providing hidden subsidises for vehicle parking and justified the introduction of the teachers’ parking fees in all Primary, Secondary schools, and Junior Colleges.
If the reason given for charging teachers is to ensure a “clean” wage without hidden perks, why doesn’t the same principle apply to elected MPs?
It is completely inconsistent and illogical that one set of public workers have to be “clean” while another set do not have to. This is especially so in light of elected MPs being paid generally so much more than the average teacher.
The silence is deafening.
It has also been reported that the monies raised from charging teachers parking will be retained by the schools. What will the schools use these monies for? This needs to be regulated as it could lead to further inequality between schools. Will a school that has fewer teachers who drive suffer as a result?
In Singapore where our schools are all run by the MOE, shouldn’t there be some general standard across the board? How is the MOE regulating the collection and expenditure of these extra income streams?
As can be seen, many cans of works have been opened as a result of this parking saga. There are many questions that have yet to be raised and answered concerning this parking revelation.
Will they ever be raised and answered? I suppose that depends on how much we push for accountability and transparency.
To me, this isn’t just a simple issue about where you park your car. Rather it goes right into the heart of the mentality of public service. It displays a sense of entitlement that just shouldn’t be there. Further, it highlights inequality within our system. While complete equality might be a pipe dream, it doesn’t mean that we stop striving for it.
