Though Singapore’s meritocratic educational system has come under criticism of late, I believe we are often unclear on why Singaporeans are unhappy.
Meritocracy is bascially a system that rewards citizens in proportion to what society perceives as their merit.
Here, I shall distill four distinct criticisms of meritocracy and categorise them into two groups: those that criticise meritocracy from within the meritocratic framework and those from without:
- The Socio-economic Inequity critique
- The Narrow Definition of Merit critique
- The Narrow Definition of Rewards Critique
- The Narrativist Critique
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Why it is important to understand the paradox of meritocracy
Of late, there has been a lively debate on the issue of inequality. I think Singaporeans are less worried that inequality exists, for income gaps and uneven wealth distribution occur in every society. But they become a worrying threat when the gap becomes entrenched, society becomes stratified, and our people start segregating themselves.
The best way to reduce stratification is to continue to ensure social mobility. So long as young Singaporeans from humble backgrounds can grow up to be successful, social distinctions will have less chance to coagulate, and our society can continue to stay together as one.
And education has been, and will continue to be, the key tool to ensuring social mobility. It enables our young, regardless of background, to hope, aspire, and achieve.
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Meritocracy is under siege. Here are 3 ways Singapore can overcome its limitations
While meritocracy is under siege and faith in it is weakening across the globe, it has not failed and will remain a key principle for recognising individuals, said Education Minister Ong Ye Kung at the 2019 Raffles Institution (RI) Founder’s Day on Saturday (July 27). Below is an excerpt of his speech, in which Mr Ong also offered three suggestions on how Singapore can overcome the limitations of meritocracy.
Meritocracy, however, is under siege. All around the world, faith in meritocracy is weakening, as people start to see its outcomes as somewhat unjust. The impetus is on us — not just the Government, but all of us — to overcome the limitations of meritocracy, and consciously fight against the ossification of social classes.
And I would like to present to you three suggestions today that can contribute to this effort:
- CALIBRATE EXPECTATIONS OF MERITOCRACY
- BROADEN DEFINITION AND UPLIFT
- GREATER SUPPORT TO STUDENTS FROM HUMBLER BACKGROUNDS
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Meritocracy still key principle for recognising individuals in Singapore, says Ong Ye Kung
Although faith in meritocracy is weakening, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung says the ideology will remain a key principle for recognising individuals in Singapore.
Speaking at the Raffles Institution's (RI) 196th Founder's Day ceremony on Saturday (July 27), Mr Ong stressed that though meritocracy is "under siege", it has not failed.
In the last few years, meritocracy in Singapore has taken on negative overtones due to its association with elitism and there has been an ongoing debate over social inequality and stratification in society.
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No better system than meritocracy, but things can improve: Ong Ye Kung
"Even those who rail against meritocracy struggle to come up with a better system," Mr Ong said, adding that this does not mean things cannot improve.
"The impetus is on us - not just the Government, but all of us - to overcome the limitations of meritocracy, and consciously fight against the ossification of social classes," he said.
Mr Ong suggested that one way to do this is to make a stronger effort to remove affordability as an impediment for students from lower-income families to attend independent schools.
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Singapore’s approach to tackling inequality is to build 'enabling meritocracy': Indranee
Widening inequality in Singapore has triggered calls for a rethink of meritocracy, but the solution to the problem lies not in abolishing it altogether but to create an “enabling meritocracy”, Second Minister for Education and Finance Indranee Rajah said on Thursday (July 18).
In such a system, those at the bottom are uplifted, without capping the growth of those at the top, she said.
She made these remarks in a speech at this year’s National University of Singapore's Social Service Research Centre Conference, which was attended by about 300 participants including academics, policymakers and social workers.
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Simon Lim: Meritocracy in Singapore tainted badly with how ministers’ spouses and military officers with no experience, being appointed to head GLCs
“Although faith in Meritocracy is weakening, the ideology will remain a key principle for recognising individuals in Singapore. Though meritocracy is under siege, it has not failed. In the last few years, meritocracy has taken on a negative overtones due to its association with elitism and there has been an ongoing debate over social inequality and stratification in society. Even those who rail against meritocracy struggle to come up with a better system”– Education Minister Ong Ye Kung.
True Meritocracy is a very noble ideal and meritocracy comes from the word, Merit. Over the years and especially during the early years of our nation-building, true meritocracy had served us well when only the truly best people were selected to do the jobs according to his/her merits. And even as inequalities and stratification are also growing, something deeper and more sinister have also been brewing too and if we ignore or pretend that it is not the case, our ostrich mentality will definitely cost our people and our country a great deal.
So, what has gone wrong with meritocracy in Singapore and more specifically, what has gone wrong with meritocracy in the pap government until it has now been much weakened, much questioned, despise and come under siege by our own citizens?
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“Meritocracy became tainted when PAP Ministers’ spouses and SAF officers were appointed to lead GLCs”
Socio-political commentator Simon Lim has asserted that meritocracy in Singapore became tainted when the spouses of People’s Action Party (PAP) ministers and senior military officials were appointed to lead Government-linked companies (GLCs).
In a Facebook post published on Wednesday (31 July), Mr Lim pointed to a recent quote by Education Minister Ong Ye Kung who had said that meritocracy will continue to be a key principle in recognising individuals in Singapore, even though the people’s faith in the ideology is weakening. Mr Ong had said: “Although faith in Meritocracy is weakening, the ideology will remain a key principle for recognising individuals in Singapore. Though meritocracy is under siege, it has not failed.
“In the last few years, meritocracy has taken on a negative overtones due to its association with elitism and there has been an ongoing debate over social inequality and stratification in society. Even those who rail against meritocracy struggle to come up with a better system.”
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Simon Lim August 1 at 7:44 AM
"Although faith in Meritocracy is weakening, the ideology will remain a key principle for recognising individuals in Singapore. Though meritocracy is under siege, it has not failed. In the last few years, meritocracy has taken on a negative overtones due to its association with elitism and there has been an ongoing debate over social inequality and stratification in society. Even those who rail against meritocracy struggle to come up with a better system"- Education Minister Ong Ye Kung.
True Meritocracy is a very noble ideal and meritocracy comes from the word, Merit. Over the years and especially during the early years of our nation building, true meritocracy had served us well when only the truly best people were picked to tackle top jobs according to his/her merits. And even as inequalities and stratification are also growing, something deeper and more sinister have also been brewing too and if we ignore or pretend that it is not the case, our ostrich mentality will definitely cost our people and our country a great deal.
So, what has gone wrong with meritocracy in Singapore and more specifically, what has gone wrong with meritocracy in the pap government until it has now been much weakened, much questioned, despise and come under siege by our own citizens?
Simon Lim August 5 at 11:04 AM
The lack of transparency and very, very questionable meritocracy practised by the pap government. Why was Lawrence Wong so reluctant to disclose the salaries of the top 3 earners at our sovereign wealth funds of Temasek Holding and GIC when he spoke in response to WP MP's question in Parliament? Aren't our reserves managed by our sovereign wealth funds public funds? If the answer is Yes, then where is proper accountability and transparency to the citizens? Transparency, by any standards, has been dragged through the mud. Period.
Lastly, the manner in which the pap government practises meritocracy is very questionable and even unconvincing among observing and thinking Singaporeans. Very senior military officers were deployed to head government organisations and government linked companies despite their lack of relevant experiences. Thinking citizens must wonder if all that is wise or could there be other hidden agendas? Think!
If all that and more are not examples and proofs that the pap government has lost its way, kindly prove me wrong.
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Dawn of a new era in Singapore politics
Tan Cheng Bock secretary general of the newly formed Progress Singapore Party no longer believes in the ethos that drives the dominant PAP of today. PAP is no longer the party that it once was. Decay, political or otherwise, has set in and like a good doctor, Dr Tan thinks a surgical strike is what it takes to keep the ruling party in check.
There have been many lapses, including loss of transparency, independence and accountability in recent years. “We do not know how Ho Ching and the spouses of ministers have come about to hold key appointments. We need to know what is the criteria for appointment of key positions,” he said.
“The ruling party has gone astray. It has failed to take in different perspectives and this may lead to negative consequences in the long term,” stressed Dr Tan.
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Good governance eroding, says Tan Cheng Bock
Asked to elaborate on his criticisms of the Government, he cited three issues: Appointment of ministers' spouses to top roles; the changes to the Elected Presidency in 2016 to ensure minority representation, which led to the 2017 Presidential Election being reserved for Malay candidates; and the 2017 parliamentary debate on the fate of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's house at 38 Oxley Road.
He said the appointment of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's wife, Ms Ho Ching, as chief executive of Temasek had left many "wondering why", alluding to a lack of transparency. "As you all know, Temasek is part of our reserves. We want to know how that selection process was made," he added.
Soon after Ms Ho became executive director in 2002, then Temasek chairman S. Dhanabalan said she was appointed on merit and not family connections. He also said PM Lee, who was then Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, agreed to the appointment after Mr Dhanabalan ensured Ms Ho would not report directly to the Finance Ministry.
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Tan Cheng Bock and the Lee Hsien Yang factor
In what is likely to be his last shot at active politics, former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock went for the jugular.
Aiming his gun at Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the 79-year-old retired doctor known for his cautious, considerate and considered style of politics said at a press conference to launch his Progress Singapore Party (PSP) last Friday (26 July), “As you all know, Temasek is part of our reserves. We want to know how that selection process was made…There must be many of you who were wondering why, for example, the wife of our Prime Minister has been appointed to be the CEO of Temasek.”
It was that rare occasion when he tackled the man rather than the ball. In the process, the good old doctor drew a decisive political marker by kicking the ball into the court of PM Lee and his wife, Ho Ching, and putting the disquiet about her controversial appointment right back onto the political stage.
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PSP wants to be a ‘credible alternative’ to PAP, but no regime change expected in next election
When asked to elaborate on what he meant by the erosion of good governance in Singapore, he said that the Government has not been very transparent about how it appoints individuals, especially those related to political office holders, to important positions.
As an example, he cited the appointment of Ms Ho Ching — the wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong — as chief executive of the sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings.
“We are not questioning the credibility of these people who are there. But we are worried… because if your process is not transparent, there isn’t much accountability.”
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Erosion of good governance the reason he started new political party: Tan Cheng Bock
Alluding to a lack of transparency in the process, he said: "I think there must be many who are wondering why, for example, the wife of our prime minister has been appointed to be the CEO of Temasek. As you all know Temasek is part of our reserves. We want to know how that selection process was made."
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's wife Ho Ching is the CEO of Temasek. Soon after Ms Ho became executive director in 2002, then Temasek chairman S. Dhanabalan said she was appointed on merit and not family connections.
He also said PM Lee, who was then Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, agreed to the appointment after Mr Dhanabalan ensured Ms Ho would not report directly to the Finance Ministry.
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Will Cheng Bock’s appeal to the Merdeka generation work?
Instead, he gave broad brushstrokes on why he decided to form his own party. It had to do with the erosion of the governance system, particularly over issues of transparency and accountability.
Pressed on this, he spoke about the opaque process of appointing office-holders, mentioning Temasek Holdings’ Madam Ho Ching, wife of the Prime Minister, by name.
Later, he referred to the FamiLEE fight over the fate of the late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s Oxley Road House. Parliament, he said, shouldn’t be used as a platform to air family disputes, referring to the Parliamentary session in July 2017 held for PM Lee Hsien Loong to answer questions of abuse of power, accusations levelled by his two siblings.
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New Singapore opposition party backed by PM's brother launched
After a 31-year tenure as Singapore's first prime minister marked by allegations of reduced civil liberties and free speech, Lee in 2004 handed over power to his 67-year-old son Lee Hsien Loong, who wants to pass on the reins to a hand-picked successor.
"I wholeheartedly support the principles and values of the Progress Singapore Party. Today's PAP is no longer the PAP of my father. It has lost its way," Lee Hsien Yang wrote on July 28 in a Facebook post.
Tan ran for president in the 2011 elections and nearly defeated the PAP's candidate in a four-way contest. This time, Tan hopes to unite Singapore's traditionally fractured opposition parties and offer a unified political alternative in Singapore. Since his departure from PAP in 2006, Tan became one of its most vocal critics. He questioned the appointment of the prime minister's wife, Ho Ching, as the CEO of government-owned investment company, Temasek Holdings, as well as the use of parliament to debate the family feud over Lee Kuan Yew's residence.
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Meritocracy
Meritocracy (merit, from Latin mereō, and -cracy, from Ancient Greek κράτος kratos 'strength, power') is a political system in which economic goods and/or political power are vested in individual people on the basis of talent, effort, and achievement, rather than factors such as heredity or wealth. Advancement in such a system is based on performance, as measured through examination or demonstrated achievement. Although the concept of meritocracy has existed for centuries, the term itself was coined in 1958 by the sociologist Michael Dunlop Young in his satirical essay The Rise of the Meritocracy
The "most common definition of meritocracy conceptualizes merit in terms of tested competency and ability, and most likely, as measured by IQ or standardized achievement tests." In government and other administrative systems, "meritocracy" refers to a system under which advancement within the system turns on "merits", like performance, intelligence, credentials, and education. These are often determined through evaluations or examinations. In a more general sense, meritocracy can refer to any form of evaluation based on achievement. Like "utilitarian" and "pragmatic", the word "meritocratic" has also developed a broader connotation, and is sometimes used to refer to any government run by "a ruling or influential class of educated or able people".
This is in contrast to the original, condemnatory use of the term in 1958 by Michael Dunlop Young in his work "The Rise of the Meritocracy", who was satirizing the ostensibly merit-based Tripartite System of education practiced in the United Kingdom at the time; he claimed that, in the Tripartite System, "merit is equated with intelligence-plus-effort, its possessors are identified at an early age and selected for appropriate intensive education, and there is an obsession with quantification, test-scoring, and qualifications." Meritocracy in its wider sense, may be any general act of judgment upon the basis of various demonstrated merits; such acts frequently are described in sociology and psychology. Supporters of meritocracy do not necessarily agree on the nature of "merit"; however, they do tend to agree that "merit" itself should be a primary consideration during evaluation. Thus, the merits may extend beyond intelligence and education to any mental or physical talent or to work ethic. As such meritocracy may be based on moral character or innate abilities such as intelligence. Meritocrats therefore reject evaluation on the basis of race, wealth, family circumstances, and similar criteria.
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Auditor-general is wife of political office-holder, but there’s no conflict of interest: Chan Chun Sing
Even though Auditor-General Goh Soon Poh is the wife of Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How, there is no conflict of interest generally because political office-holders are not involved in the audit process conducted by the Auditor-General’s Office (AGO).
Ms Goh’s appointment also followed the necessary procedures and was based on her rich public sector experience, Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing told Parliament on Thursday (Feb 28).
He was responding to Workers’ Party Member of Parliament (MP) Sylvia Lim, who wanted a confirmation that the new auditor-general is indeed the spouse of Mr Heng.
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Chan: No confict of interest in appointment of Auditor-General
There is generally no conflict of interest between the Auditor-General's Office and the ministries it audits, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said in Parliament yesterday.
Mr Chan, Minister-in-charge of the public service, also set out how people are identified to fill key constitutional appointments.
He was responding to Workers' Party chairman Sylvia Lim (Aljunied GRC), who had asked the Government to confirm if the new Auditor-General was the wife of a Senior Minister of State, and if so, how that might affect people's perception of the independence of the office.
She did not name names, but was referring to Ms Goh Soon Poh, who took over the role earlier this month and is the wife of the Senior Minister of State for Defence, Mr Heng Chee How.
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There’s no nepotism in Temasek and GIC: DPM Heng Swee Keat tells Swiss newspaper
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat was interviewed by Swiss newspaper, Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), last Fri (17 May)
During the interview, Heng who is also the finance minister, was asked many pointed questions by the Swiss newspaper. He was asked about the one-party regime in Singapore, despite Singapore having elections.
“Would not the time be ripe for more democracy and more political competition?” NZZ asked.
Heng maintained that Singapore has free and fair elections. He said numerous parties participated in the last election and in 2011 five Members of Parliament from the People’s Action Party lost their seats.
Ho Ching remains Temasek CEO
Temasek International CEO Dilhan Pillay appeared to skirt questions on Ho Ching’s role at Temasek and the organisation’s plans for leadership succession, at a recent press briefing.
Temasek International is the investment arm of Singapore sovereign wealth fund, Temasek, which is led by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s wife, Ho Ching. Instead of giving a direct answer as to what Temasek’s leadership succession plans are, when he was asked to give details on these plans and on Mdm Ho’s role at the company, Mr Pillay would only say that Mdm Ho is “very much now involved in the stewardship aspects of Temasek…she still keeps a watchful eye over all of us to make sure we continue to do the right thing.”
The South China Morning Post noted that Mr Pillay also quipped, “Right now, she’s watching all of us,” and that this remark was met with laughter.
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