Rebooting meritocracy - change needed across the rungs

WITH rising inequality around the world, the notion of meritocracy - a governing principle in Singapore - has increasingly come under debate in recent years, not just here but in many societies.

Coined by British sociologist Michael Young in 1958, meritocracy sees people being rewarded on the basis of ability, talent and performance. It assumes that aptitude and hard work determine one's future. This seems fair on the surface. Someone who has worked hard and excelled, or is simply innately capable and outstanding, deserves his or her success.

However, what is problematic about the idea of meritocracy is that it presumes all people have the same opportunity to succeed, which is not the case. Opportunities can never be truly equal as long as social classes exist - and in Singapore it's recognised that social stratification has sharpened over the years.