I feel so embarrassed

I feel embarrassed for my nation.

I feel embarrassed that we so neatly categorized the future of our nation, our students into three neat groups or streams.

And we give each group different opportunities.

I feel so embarrassed.

That regardless how that student in the lower stream dreams of being a politician, that chance will almost never be given to him or her, unless he or she goes to an opposition party. And even so, risk being mocked for not being one of those "rags to riches" cases or not having stellar qualifications.

I don't know how to explain to my friends from around the world, why it's like this in my country.

Yes, Goh Keng Swee felt this was the way to ensure no wastage of talents, to make sure each group of people maximize out what they can do best.

I feel so embarrassed.

I feel so embarrassed that qualification, or being book-smart, is so important in my nation, when there's so many other ways to measure a Man.

Embarrassed that there's almost no way of elevating yourself, in terms of being a politician, if you are poor in English, poor in Math or poor in Mother Tongue. You will be classified as one of those who don't have the ability, and didn't work hard enough.

How do I explain this to people?

This is just the way it is?

I'm sorry, I cannot change it.

I was born into this. And I only can perpetuate it.