Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam recently said that Singapore has chosen to tackle the long-standing challenge of improving social mobility by focussing on the development of human potential as well as building inclusive neighbourhoods.
Mr Tharman made these remarks at the opening speech of the recently-concluded three-day International Sociological Association Research Committee 28 (Social Stratification and Mobility) Conference held at the National University of Singapore's University Town.
Mr Tharman spoke at length about the various education policies that countries such as Singapore have adopted, and called for humility in tackling the challenges of social mobility, which defies easy solutions.
He noted that Singapore spreads good teachers across the system to ensure equal access to quality education for all Singapore students, and in so doing, fosters a common school experience for all that engenders inclusiveness.
Singapore must retain the principle of meritocracy, but Mr Tharman also mentioned that the very concept of meritocracy itself needs to be broadened to take into account a wider range of skills and talents.