Lack of social capital a barrier for Malay community despite signs of rising educational mobility: Study

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Relate to how meritocracy can entrench the position of those already at the top of society by conferring advantages to their children in the form of social capital....This serves to undermine the 'merit' criterion as a fair yardstick for reward, coz the possession of merit (in this case, education qualifications) is no guaranteee one will be rewarded with a job or promotion since social capital comes into play.

while some in the community have attained higher academic qualifications, “social capital deficit” remains. Social capital refers to the resources and advantages one draws from their social relationships, including access to information, trust and recognition

Those with stronger social capital, such as access to mentors, professional family members or industry networks, were better able to navigate educational and career pathways, while others relied primarily on formal qualifications and personal effort.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in September 2025 pledged to “broaden meritocracy” to keep the escalator of mobility moving, after President Tharman Shanmugaratnam identified social mobility as a top priority for the new term of government.

the importance of enablers like social capital, where access to networks can greatly influence the translation of skills and education into meaningful career advancements.

Qn: To what extent is meritocracy an effective way to enhance social mobility in your society? (RI 2023 Yr 5 CT)