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THE Government must look carefully at meritocracy to ensure that those from less-privileged homes can still succeed if they are capable of doing so, said Law and Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam yesterday.
He also reiterated the importance of pre-school education for children from such households so that they can be given a leg up when they start primary school.
Mr Shanmugam, who is a Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, said: "We need to be vigilant about it to make sure that the meritocratic system really works."
He was speaking on the sidelines of a community event held at Block 162, Yishun Street 11, yesterday morning, where scholarships were given out to six undergraduates, most of whom live in Nee Soon.
"Where we need to be careful is to make sure the pathways to success for people from less- privileged homes, as long as they are capable of succeeding in the system... continue to be free and they exist."
The scholarships were sponsored by home-grown hedge fund and private-equity fund Dymon Asia. The scholarship's overriding criteria for its recipients are not academic grades, but their track record, ability, and desire to make a difference in their communities.
Under the scholarship, students will receive $6,000 in their first year of studies, and $10,000 for each subsequent year.
Mr Shanmugam said: "(The scholarship) is a way of recognising different aspects (of) people who want to come forward to serve the community.
"We recognise you, we celebrate you, we will help you and we will partner you."
Scholarship recipient Gracia Wong, 22, from the National University of Singapore, said she hopes to organise a finance- management clinic and tuition classes for residents in future.
As a member of Project iCare - an initiative aimed at improving the lives of low-income households living in rental flats in Chong Pang - she was also involved in organising yesterday's event.
