Come what may

Today, I'm thinking the School Excellence Award. It is the highest and most prestigious award in the MOE Masterplan of Awards framework. Today, two schools have been awarded this most highly coveted award. And today, I couldn't help but wonder about equity and meritocracy.

Evidently, this excellence includes integrated curriculum, special co-curricular programmes, individualised enrichment programmes and the like. While all students are, technically, given equal opportunities, I ponder over the doubt of opportunism, and inevitably too, elitism. Yet, I cannot unfairly dismiss the intense effort of those educators whom I'm certain have been through more sweat, blood and tears in the process than I can ever imagine. But I also cannot conceal my disgust in those interested only in recognition and reputation.

Perhaps, I hold too idealistic an impression of what education should be. And perhaps too, this is something I may never reconcile with. But I just couldn't stop wondering if there is equity in education, if meritocracy is but an excuse for opportunism.