Measuring meritocracy: a study of Indonesian English teachers’ views on the role of effort in their own and their students’ success

Abstract

ABSTRACT Meritocracy argues that people’s success in life should be based on their own effort, not their family background. Education plays a vital role here, providing opportunities for people of all ages to develop and demonstrate their merit. Although meritocracy is generally seen as positive, this article cautions that achieving a more meritocratic society can be problematic, that merit can be difficult to define, and that merit may be unfairly used to rationalize inequality. A survey study was presented involving 260 school teachers of English in various parts of Indonesia who were asked their views and experiences on meritocracy. Results suggest that many supported meritocracy and believed that it functioned fairly well in Indonesia for themselves, their own students, and students in Indonesia generally. The study makes an empirical contribution to a small but growing body of research on the role of meritocracy in education, especially in the Global South.