I READ with interest Mr Zakir Hussain's article last Friday, 'Meritocracy's hidden danger' which gives a revealing insight into Singapore's brand of meritocracy.

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The writer has to be pragmatic. it is survival of the fittest in a small world. These elites have earned their awards after intense competition. Nothing is wrong about this. Just shoot for the stars and to those blur kings out there.they only see stars in their future.

the rich gets the cherries while the poor the dung. the rich can afford thousands a month to get the best tuition teachers to spoon feed their precious little elite brats and get them the As. They have the best materialistic environment money can buy - computers, books, travel scholarships, etc.
The writer is correct. This dichotomy and division will tear Spore apart if we do not realise the dangers and take remedial measures urgently.

In extreme terms just think of it this way to get the mental picture about what the writer means about the `us versus them' division- a thin half-starved stray dog and a molly coddled well-groomed pedigree poodle with clothes and obese from gorging too much fine food.

What's the point of being rich if it means no privilege at all and must fight with the poor for the same share of the pie?

The educated is more likely to be financially successful, and educated high-income also more likely ensure that their family receives good education & values. (Note is "more likely"). In Singapore, due to wealth distribution, the high income is subsidizing for all Singaporeans (education, medical, infrastructure, security...). Fact: lower 66% income of Singaporeans dont pay income tax. and money also comes from those can afford cars (COE, road tax, erp...) consumes much (GST), drinks, smoke & gambles.

Code22xx said "In Singapore, due to wealth distribution, the high income is subsidizing for all Singaporeans (education, medical, infrastructure, security...)". What is left unsaid?
So because of the above reason it is alright for them to be entitled to this elitist education system?

Let's distinguish between a scholarship and a bursary. A scholarship is given to students on the basis of their academic merits. It is independent of family background. It is not surprising that there are more students from well-off families who secured the scholarships. They come from better background which translates to better environments for learning. Why cry wolf and start pointing fingers?

For the students who are in need, there's the bursary.

Let's be fair.

"This dichotomy and division will tear Spore apart if we do not realise the dangers and take remedial measures urgently."

What is the solution?

Between a scholar and a bum, I shall not go near to either one of them if they do not have GP and AP values ingrained in them from age 6.

What are GP values?

Google the "Glad Game".

All I can say about the above letter is.

Too Late.