fortunate son
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The London trip that I've applied for has made me do some thinking. It's very popular, so I asked Vijay, a classmate whom I talk to quite often, whether he was trying for it. Upon finding out that he wasn't, I asked him why, (since I felt he was into this sort of thing) and he told me that his opportunity fund has run out from last year's Cambridge trip for Economics.
While I obviously know that something like 2k is not easy money to begin with, I've never had to seriously grapple with the fact that such an opportunity would be limited by my parents' ability to pay. Sure, I never took it for granted either, and also, I know that this is an unfortunate limitation for many other people, but I can't help but feel lucky that my limitation for going for such a trip is likely purely dependent on my entry into it over other pupils, and not the ability to pay.
It was all the more relevant since I've read two articles before debating the meritocratic system in Singapore. While almost 50 percent of PSC scholars are from higher income families, this does not mean that Singapore is proportionately represented in the circumstance, for only about 17% of the population come from higher income families. It begged to question the chances of recieving such a scholarship from the background a student was from.
The obvious reasons for such a discrepancy is that higher income families can afford to get better education for their children, as well as help them excell in important related activities. (golf and a third language, perhaps?) These, some say, skew the fair chances a meritocratic system that Singapore touts. I need to declare that to begin with, I have never really thought of Singapore to be fully meritocratic. I believe no system can ever attain complete meritocracy, for there are sure to be situations that skew chances. But to say the least, Singapore's system is possibly one of the much more reliable systems in the world.
Having gotten that over, I feel that, having seen such an occassion before me, families with more disposable income stand to gain better chances and sieze opportunities. Obviously, that's not to say that low income families stand with low hopes, for that is a seriously biased conclusion to make, with many prime examples to offer the contrary. I just feel glad that, so far, my ventures have not been impeded by unfortunate circumstances that make for a wasted opportunity.
Oh and the Ministry of Finance Debate that I took part in has been put up on razor tv
here. My part is about 5 or 6 mins into it. I was doing it along with Vijay, MJ Debates president. For a first-timer, I felt I did pretty well! I showed it to my dad last night, and he said it was not bad... Chatting with him a bit more, he told me that when he was my age, he went for a national oratorical competition (5mins with no prep time beforehand for a topic that is presented to you at the time) and emerged second in Singapore, beating an RI chap and getting his prize at the Istana! Can you imagine? Amazing stuff, man.
posted by joseph at 5:28 PM