Summary: I don’t think meritocracy is applicable in education at all. I think the relevant issue should be streaming (or banding or tracking). Personally, I do not favour affirmative action. Rather, I support streamlining the curriculum to allow greater flexible and academic mobility, and recognizing the broader aspects of talent.

Meritocracy is the selection of candidates for a job based on their competency, ignoring non-relevant factors like family background, social class, etc. But education is not a job. Students are not employed to do any job. So education has nothing to do with meritocracy.

There might be a confusion between these 4 concepts: meritocracy, elitism, social welfare, and education streaming. I find the first 3 concepts rather well-explained in [1, #90].

The reason I think why the education policy is mistaken to be meritocratic is because students are streamed to different groups based on their learning abilities. But streaming is NOT meritocracy eventhough they loosely share the word “ability” in their definition.

Streaming (which is also practiced elsewhere like Hong Kong, Germany, and Austria) is designed to:
(1a) make teaching more effective (if you have friends who are teachers, they’ll tell you how hard is it to teach a class whose learning standard varies widely)
(1b) allow students to specialize in their strengths

Of course, our common concern is that we don’t want the less privileged, the late boomers, etc to be stuck in a particular stream. But, personally, I do not favour affirmative action for the following reasons:

(2a) Although less privileged children are slightly disadvantaged in the economic and social aspects, I believed the most crucial factor is still the “cultural capital” [1,#18]. Since needy students are already subsidised. Affirmative action do not make up much.

(2b) Affirmative action upset all the pedagogical advantages of streaming described above.

Personally, I think the following are more effective:

(3a) Allow flexible or customised curriculum: Instead of destroy streams altogether, we should make all streams available to ALL students. Within each stream or subject combinations, they’ll be grouped to according to their learning abilities to make teach more effective. Also, we should allow students to switch groups as soon as their learning ability picks up.

(3b) Practice streaming fairly: We should group students according their learning ability, not their social class. Also, we can never deprive any needy student a chance to study as long as he or she qualifies, i.e. subsidize school fees, ECA/CCA training, etc, if necessary.

(3c) Broader appreciation of talent: We should recognise talents in all other aspects which are not necessarily academic. For example sports, music, arts, entrepreneurship, contribution to community, etc

[1] http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/12/mother-machine/

Being a 60yr old from the lower income group, the govt must annually provide
subsidies on utilities and transport for us earning less than 2k monthly plus
GST rebates.

However, for high wage earners such as high-ranking government officials, MPs (almost of them are on part-time basis) and etc are the obvious groups which widen the gulf of income gap. Their wages are proposed and determinded by the Government.

It is sad enough to be kept in the dark at the 2006 general elections when critical information that affects decision was deprived, the debate on the subject of income disparity at the 2008 budget debate was disrupted by appalling news of a security lapse that led to Mas Selamat’s escape. That debate subsequently died a natural death.

It is hoped that this New Year 2009, we will get to seriously discuss this phenomenon. Civil Societies should persistently advocate for the marginalised, regardless of langauge, race, religion, nationality, social class, education status and political affiliation. It will be a fearful scenario should the economically-deprived and opportunity-oppressed, left without a voice choose to take the streets. In an Island state where the only way across borders are limited to the two causeways, ferry terminals and airports, very few will have the opportunity to leave the scene. Must it take such a situation before the educated, privileged and capable step forward and participate?

A huge income gap will breed jealousy and contempt. And it won’t be surprising, if another JI comes back to life. The government has to be pro-people but PAP seems to have lost its way with the people.

Anyway, an early Happy New Year to all. If you Drink, please remember Don’t Drive. Bless you!!!

You are most kind sir. I can empathize with your concerns and I think this is exactly what LHL and his team will do or try to do. Strategically, It is easier to convince a handful of people than a larger group of discontent citizenry. CST is unlikely to participate in the next GE and there is no clear successor worthy enough to challenge them albeit that ward is filled with diehard constituents. LTK will remain as he is and you are not going to see any dramatic improvement or change of style either. This is under the assumption that the zoning remained unchanged (which I suspect is unlikely). Coupled with a few strings-attached handouts here and there come 22 January 2009, and you are likely to expect to see the same old results (may be this time with an even smaller percentage of gain). But of course, we hope we are all wrong about this. What are the chances of us being wrong? Your guess is as good as mine.

Anyway, today is the second last day of 2008, hopefully the year of Golden OX will usher in a brand new (better) political home front [it is not a crime to hope and dream], one that we can all exercise our birth rights freely with no strings attached. This I believe will be one of the many resolutions that many TOC readers and posters are hoping for as well. Here’s wishing you my friend and your family, TOC and friends, Readers and Posters of TOC and last but not least my fellow Singaporeans who happen to read this; a stable and healthy 2009. Well wishes also to this twisted world and I certainly hope 2009 will see more love, peace and passion in out fellow human kind. Sometimes, it is good to go back to basics, live in an ordinary and healthy life style free of greed and crafty ploy.

However tough the recession may be or turned out to be, we are strong human beings who can withstand and weather this storm if we all stand united. Life is too short to constantly live in man made anxiety. We need less to live on if we must and we can. We can learn to share if we must and we can. We can learn to care if we must and we can. Giving is a gift we are all accorded with birth, just that some of us have somehow lost it along the way as we progresses. If and only if we care to slow down, stop and take a deep breath, we will probably find that we actually still possess that gift in us. Use it whenever situation calls for and with every little step each one of us take, the world seem brighter with a broader smile.

Sincerely,

Observer (SG-HK)

nice to hear You again and glad to have You sharing your thoughts with us.

About the hypothesis; the sudden mention of one party rule by the prime minister was liked a sudden rain that came with no sign of it coming. I even naively believed that it should be acceptable if the Regime, made up of a single party, is benevolent, benign and rules with consciences. However, I was reminded by some other kind commenters of the likely consequence of abuses that jolted and awoken me.

But, it was mentioned, why was the idea mooted and broached?
I believed that the PM was testing the reactions of the people.

Well, the citizens in the Cyberspace were unanimous in rejecting the System of one party rule. But, if the Rulers find ways to implement it, how could the people counter it? I tried to seek for an explanation for its’ mention and ended up with the hypothesis, but there was no response except Loyola who claimed that it was a joke.

And my dear friend, You came in to make my day, can’t thank You enough!

Wish You and All;

Happy and in Good Health

patriot

There are many valid points raised and without a doubt, another call for reflection amongst Singaporeans. Much had been said in the past and yet some very rational and sensible suggestions (at least to a majority of us readers and posters of TOC) had spiraled into the “black hole” and I believe the little strings-attached changes we see are not convincing enough that significant issues such as income gap bridging is given the priority to seek for a more prudent resolution. Instead, it appears that it is ever widening with the ever insatiable appetite of the human kind and in particular the “greed lord” of the bunch. Yes, indeed history had served us and reminded us what we once were some 40 over years ago and how our older generation of people had fought their way and help build this nation to where it is today. But peel off the epidemic of this income gap bridging issue and seen in a different perspective, it is indeed quite a daunting task to tackle and have an absolute fool-proof plan to satisfy all.

Purely from a business perspective, Meritocracy, if deployed with absolute impartial judgment is a great tool for bridging the income gap. However, the biggest factor that curtails meritocracy lies with the key holders (in this aspects are employers). If and only if majority of key holders are staunched advocates and believers who upheld the TRUE & GENUINE VALUES of meritocracy with undoubting integrity and are capable of exercising impartiality do we see the income gap bridging narrowed but of course this must coupled with dedicated working Singaporeans determined to improve their lifestyle regardless of whether they are degree holders or otherwise. The social and business mentality of key holders also plays a key role in aiding the bridging of the income gap. Does one select its employee based on paper qualification or based on the experiences required of the work? Obviously there are countless other driving factors that dictate the success of using meritocracy to bridge the income gap. How the balances of employed are drawn largely dependent on these key holders exposure, experience and its core value believes.

The dark side of meritocracy breeds infighting and disloyalty if one’s mind is corruptive and cognitive like a weasel. Evidently, back stabbing incidences to stifle competition or purely out to inflict harm and down play the credibility of merits of fellow employees are not uncommon in work place these days. A sad and cruel fact that has been played out throughout this world that advocates meritocracy, simply because we are human beings and complexity is our nature. The only difference we have compared to other living creatures is that we are not totally rid of conscience, sensibility and have the capability to adapt and adopt when situation calls for provided the environment settings within our proximity permit us all to make these adjustments. Rationally and in reality, there are no best of both worlds solution existing and income gap between the rich and poor will persist regardless of which system is being adopted by any governing body as long as capitalism is rudimentary. Perfection only existed in the virtual world.

All eyes (at least mine is) are now trained on January 22, 2009 when the budget plan is reveal. Until then, I will reserve any further comments.

Cannot agree more!

Before we perish, we will have to suffer hardships, rising crimes, depressions/mental breakdowns, marriage/family breakups, homeless wanderers, homicides and other social ills. It will be scary!

The State Managers must come out from their ivory towers, take public transports, have some meals in foodcourts, buy sundries and groceries at NTUC/Cheers Retail Outlets, buy fish and meats/poultries at wet markets and see for themselves how much a family of four members have to spent on basic neccessities on top of their house mortgages, schooling fees/expenditures and health needs.

Parliamentarians have to ask themselves how fair they have been treating the people with raising the costs of livings incessantly, search their consciences and ask themselves if they had been humane towards their citizens.
ARE YOU(Parliamentarians) ABLE TO UNDERSTAND YOUR PEOPLE? AND YOUR DUTIES AS LEADERS? Ask, ask and ask; please do!

patriot

I would think this is what exactly our elites would like to see, so they can bring in more FW & FT to replace those who will perish by giving them free citizenships, this way, they can still keep them in power for many more years to come.

Uh.. then will be a Masters (PHD) In Public Sanitation lor

For one, many will be suffering now especially those earning between $2000 to $2500 with three dependents – wife and two kids. Many could not even afford to provide for their ageing parents. That is probably why some old folks got to work as cleaners in foodcourt.

Those who are retrenched will also face severe hardship due to a lack of govt financial aid viz a viz unemployment benefit.

A minimum wage policy is one of the best bet against the population earning much less than the country’s economic prosperity. If not for minimum wage policy, we will continue to see the have and the have-nots getting more apparent fuelling up much social unrest. Already a new lawyer can earn $4k a month whereas an O level salesman earning $2k and below.

The lawyer has an eye for at least $5k or more within a year or two whereas the salesman needs to work very hard to earn at least $2.5k after a year or two depending on his sales. Let’s not even talk about those top guns corporate CEOs who all draw million dollar package.

The gap truly has grown further apart since ten years ago and is more apparent now. Many became millionaires lst year more so because of the endbloc windfall.

I have a friend who is already a multi millionaire and when his Farrer Court condo got endbloc it was an extra $2 million on top of his multi million fat bank account. I wonder how many people will benefit if he donated his $2 million to the poor and needy.

Obviously, Singaporeans all live from hand to mouth saving little for their retirement. We all need drastic changes for our country or else we perish!