Meritocracy In Singapore's Education System

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Meritocracy in Singapore’s Education System
LIOW YING XIN DAPHNE
In Singapore, education centrals around the ideology of meritocracy, where people are rewarded based on their merit. This holds true for all levels of Singapore’s education system, from compulsory primary education to higher education. For the purpose of this essay, higher education shall be defined as post-secondary education. In a system of meritocracy, a student’s ability and effort are objectively measured using his or her academic achievements. The strong emphasis placed on academic performance when it comes to assessment of grades and criteria for admission to institutions of higher education can be attributed to the fact that good academic credentials are seen as the most important factor for one’s career prospects and future economic status in today’s context. The justification of meritocracy in Singapore’s education system is a widely debated topic, but despite its shortcomings, it is undeniable that meritocracy is a system that works. This essay shall discuss the view that the meritocratic system is equitable enough for deserving individuals to succeed.
Firstly, Singapore’s meritocratic system is equitable as it is able to provide multiple different pathways for the pursuit of higher education. The various government-funded post-secondary education institutions (PSEIs) available prior to university education (Junior colleges, polytechnics, Institute of Technical Education) cater to students with
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