Circle the MR and SR chosen to evaluate. Agree or disagree with MR chosen, look at it from different PPECS perspectives.

Conclude by
looking at the arguments in a holistic way/ macro-view reaffirm these arguments.

I will be evaluating (insert MR). I agree/ disagree. Definition. Evaluation. CK. Conclusion. Evaluation should come from CK.

Definitions:
 Meritocracy: a society governed by people who are selected according to merit.
 Government: consists of institutions responsible for making collective decisions for the society. Refers to the top political level
within such institutions.
 Governance: refers to the process of making collective decisions. Government usually plays leading role. In some societies, non-
government organizations have a strong influence in the process and the government plays only a minor role. Includes policies
and programs. Covers education, transport, health, housing, cost of living.
 Nation: community of people centered on a territory with a shared identity – usually based on race/ language/ religion and seeks to
govern itself (homogenous).
 State: political entity, formed by a territorially defined population under a single government. Has international recognition and h as
the capacity to enter into relations and agreements with other states.
 Republic: government without a monarchy.
 Authority: the right to rule
 Social Recession: weakening of individual resilience. High expectations of endless rising prosperity have been instilled in
generations of citizens as a birthright. Part time and unemployed people are marginalized, not just financially but socially. Widening
income/ wealth disparity as those in the top 10% pull away from the shrinking middle class. Systemic decline in social/ economic
mobility as it becomes increasingly difficult to move from dependence on the state (welfare) or parents to the middle class.
Widening disconnect between higher education and employment (i.e. a college or university degree no longer guarantees a stable,
good paying job). Failure in the status quo institutions and mainstream media to recognize social recession as a reality. General
abandonment of marriage, families and independent households as these are no longer affordable to those with part-time or
unstable employment. Results in loss of hope in the young generations.
 Social Contract: implicit agreement along the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits, for example by sacrificing
some individual freedom for state protection.
 Social mobility: change in social status relative to others’ social location within a given society. Disparity impedes social mobility
as the poor are not as able as the rich, resulting in inequality, which carries forward to job opportunities and income, which places a
huge emphasis on education and qualifications in Singapore’s meritocratic society.
 Social cohesion: cohesive society works towards the well-being of all members, fights exclusion and marginalization, creates a
sense of belonging, promotes trust and offers its members the opportunity of upward mobility. Components include social capit al,
social inclusion and social mobility.
 Fair and inclusive society: every citizen has a rightful place and opportunity to fulfill his or her aspirations. A socially inclusive
society is defined as one where all people feel values, their differences are respected, and their basic needs are met so they can
live in dignity.
 Social net: something people can fall back on for security e.g. CPF
 Social construct: something you follow because everyone else does it
 National Identity: a person’s identity and sense of belonging to one state or to one nation, a feeling on shares with a group of
people, regardless of one’s citizenship status.
 Legitimacy: legitimate system of government is one where the people accept the validity of a certain rule/ law or the entire political
system/ system of government.
 Status quo: the existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues.
 Society: a large group of people who live together in an organized way, making decisions about how to do things and sharing the
work that needs to be done. All the people in a country, or in several similar countries, can be referred to as a society.
(Homogeneous- group of people who have common ties with race, ethnic or religious backgrounds/ heterogeneous – diversity of
people with different race, ethnic and religious backgrounds, industrial/ agrarian/ urban society)
 Culture: the way of life, such as shared sense of custom, language, belief, behavior of a particular group of people at a particular
time. Can be material or non-material culture.
 Identity: the fact of being who or what a person is. Personal/ self, community/ communal, national

Singapore has a wide income disparity with a Gini coefficient at 0.45.

Meritocracy: Singapore is a meritocratic country, and hence progress is based on ability and talent rather than on class privilege or
wealth. The meritocracy shapes a relatively level playing field where the most capable and hardworking individuals regardless of ethnicity
or social classes have an equal opportunity to rise to the top. However, systemic flaws and failures that were once side-lined in the public
eye are becoming increasingly prevalent and visible today. Students who come from a more privileged family are more likely to perform
better. For example, more students in the IP program come from a high-income family (50% as compared to 20% for other schools). The
concentrations of good schools in well-to-do neighborhoods and the greater means affluent families have for tuition programs clearly
afford the rich an edge over the less so. Hence, between equally intelligent children, one from a rich background will have a higher
chance of gaining entry into good schools.

Nation or state: Singapore has a nascent national identity despite being lacking in the depth of culture, linguistics and history, which
many nations possess. While Singapore may not be considered a nation in a cultural sense of the term, it could be regarded as one in the
political sense. Singapore does exist as a political community, in which the State articulates a common will and shared destiny and
thereby seeks to “concretize” a national identity. Singaporeans are also concerned with issues like immigration and influx of foreigners,
showing growing sense of national identity and belonging.
Why social and cultural identity is important: defines a group of people who share the same attitude or way of living. Makes a person
feel he is belonged to the society, provide the sense of security which give an opportunity to build relationship with someone who share
the same culture. Stronger unity, affects stability and cohesion.

Pioneer Generation Package: introduced to