Theoretical principles of formation of a meritocratic approach to selection of personnel in the system of public administration

The article analyzed the approaches to the concept of «meritocracy». The article determined that the meritocratic principle in the selection of management personnel is revealed in the early selection of talented individuals who have managerial abilities, charisma, high level of intelligence, communication abilities, and are honest, responsible, unbiased with their own personal core. The author noted that the principle of meritocracy in the formation of a management elite is manifested in equal access to the system of public administration of all professionally trained persons with a high level of moral qualities that have been appropriately selected and have experience in management activities. The article analyzed the experience of forming a managerial staff in Singapore. The success of the Singaporean model of public administration is based on meritocratic principles, a strict bureaucratic hierarchy and administrative impartiality, and is based on four major strategies: Singapore’s comprehensive civil service reform; strong and effective anti-corruption measures; decentralization of the Civil Service Commission; payment of competitive wages to attract and retain the best personnel. The author identified the main stages of selection of management personnel in accordance with Ukrainian legislation. In our opinion, the meritocratic principle should be central to the formation of the national managerial elite through the prevailing system of qualifying tests, examinations on the basis of objective, impartial and comprehensive evaluation.