Vocational education in Singapore: meritocracy and hidden narratives

Abstract

This paper offers a broad overview of vocational education in Singapore. Looking at vocational education from Independence, it argues that the development of a skilled labour force was not only crucial in the age of globalisation and the dominance of multinational companies, but also an empirical litmus test of the newly elected post-colonial government to self-govern. By the mid-to-late 1970s, Singapore's ‘Second Industrial Revolution’ to attract more skill-intensive industries demanded that vocational education kept pace with a more integrated and dynamic global economy. However, vocational education suffered from a less than prestigious image. It is argued that the government's rhetoric on meritocracy and elitist policies did little to address this image at a time when the middle class was developing its own characteristics, tastes and values. This paper concludes that while vocational education in Singapore has been constructed as a success story, there are several hidden narratives. From the overrepresentation of Malay students to increased stratification, to the gendering of schools, these hidden narratives reflect dominant interests and values.