Gifted Education Programme

[Flying_genie]

I also wonder sometimes, why only GEP primary but not follow throughout?

Or there's already an unpublished system they will develop these kids?

Hearsay hearsay these kids will be monitored by MOE throughout their school lives for their overall development.

 

But if not, why end at primary, since they are supposed to be identified to be there top 1% or 5% of the cohort?

I don't know if these kids are monitored throughout their school years or not. But, during their primary school years, these kids' exam results and school work are collated by the school and submitted to MOE GE branch; every examination results. MOE probably keeps a file on every GE child.

 

Actually, not every GEP child is book smart. They are just different in their own ways. Some are gifted in other ways. A kid I know is at bottom half of GE band but he gave a solo piano recital at Victoria Concert Hall at 10 years old. Another kid plays 3 musical instruments. Another speaks 4 languages. They are just different. When selected, some are not even top of their previous schools. It's just different way of thinking and/or talents.

 

Every child has different talents or interest. We, as parents, just need to ensure they are given adequate opportunities and more importantly are happy. Some just waste their time and chances.

 

My talent is probably prawn and interests lies in the other tiko thread.

Edited November 3, 2017 by Flying_genie

[Jman888]

i am not in MOE nor in education but as a parent and listen to all the talks, i believe they do monitor the students. Having said it is not like putting a bug in the kid's brain and track him everywhere. It could be merely statistical reports.

 

When you child attend sec sch orientation, the principal will usually show you the band that your child belongs to. For certain PSLE score band, he will likely to end up in which O level score band, then A level and so on. Hence statistic also show student in the GEP, the chances that they will end up in top 5% and probably as top 1% scholars. Nothing magically if you think of it.

 

However, there are exception cases where the good become bad, and the bad turn out excellent, then statistic probably show such cases only 0.5% of the student population.

Edited November 3, 2017 by Jman888

[korosensei]

As a parent of a child who underwent the GEP process and is now undergoing the 3rd year of IP, let me tell you some of my experience.

 

The GEP program I think is very interesting. The children in GEP are smart, some academically, some talented. If your child is kind of bored with the normal school syllabus, the GEP is both challenging and rewarding.

 

firstly, the expose the child to research and critical thinking, by not supplying all the answers, but ask them to do research themselves. Then the present the answers in class, thus helping their presentation skills.

 

The workload is about the same as mainstream but the questions are tougher. My child used to be bored with the maths worksheets in P3 as they were quite repetitive ( in order to drill the same concept). In GEP the questions are tougher and more challenging.

 

P4 was an adjustment and grades were affected, but he did well in P5,P6. 

 

Took a while to "switch" to PSLE mode though, as they were not used to the style of answering questions and tend to overthink, esp comprehension, or to skip steps in maths.

 

He got a DSA to his first choice school, so a bit slack in PSLE and got alright grade. almost all of his cohort got at least 1 DSA to the IP schools, Nanyang girls, RGS, RI, Hwa Chong, NUS.

 

Many of his classmates not just good in academics. There are maths genius, writers, musicians, sportsman, also. They regularly do well in Olympiads, and competitions.

 

 

Pros of GEPs

 

more challenging 

mix with smarter peers

better DSA opportunities

exposure to research, writing, presentation, etc

learning journeys

 

Cons

 

might be discouraged that he is no longer the smartest

if he is not the best, might not be sent to Olympiads or competitions in GEP, but might have the chance in non-GEP school

might be sad to lose his friends.

 

 

Edited November 3, 2017 by korosensei

[Lala81]

I also don’t understand why they stopped at secondary. 3 years is kind of short. So it’s no longer that big a deal to get into gep.

 

That is why parents are rejecting gep because it does not help a lot in secondary school admission. My time, psle 228 also get into RI if you are gep.

 

I didn't know GEP got a different scoring system. The only 2 people in Express i know who didn't even get 260 all had connections.

Edited November 3, 2017 by Lala81

[Tonyhawk2]

in my time, there were only 3 GEP sec schools. RI, ACS and RGS. It then got a little ridiculous, because other schools were not happy. 

 

Because frankly, how many gifted kids do you think there are? What really is defined as gifted? 

Edited November 3, 2017 by Tonyhawk2

[Lala81]

My time gep includes secondary school. If u don’t accept him into RI is like kicking him out of GEP. So they almost let everyone go.....

 

But the reason that guy get 228 is because of Chinese.... we have people who fail Chinese kind....

 

haha yeah i figured. 

[newone]

in my time, there were only 3 GEP sec schools. RI, ACS and RGS. It then got a little ridiculous, because other schools were not happy. 

 

Because frankly, how many gifted kids do you think there are? What really is defined as gifted? 

How many gifted kids :  about 500 selected each year. 

But not all of them would accept the offer. A small percentage would choose to stay in mainstream for various reasons.

Then of those who get into GEP, a small percentage would fall back into the mainstream later on. 

[Flying_genie]

I didn't know GEP got a different scoring system. The only 2 people in Express i know who didn't even get 260 all had connections.

GEP don't have different scoring system. The ones who got into the 'elite' schools with their lower scores probably were accepted via DSA.

[newone]

For those with kids selected for the programme, congratulations ! 

 

However, just my suggestion :  please discuss with the child the choice of school  as well as whether to switch to GEP or not. 

 

This will ensure commitment to the programme if he/she chose to go . 

 

Once the child is in the programme, support but pls don't compare (no point because everyone also smart) .

 

just my thoughts. 

 

 

 

[newone]

I also don’t understand why they stopped at secondary. 3 years is kind of short. So it’s no longer that big a deal to get into gep.

 

That is why parents are rejecting gep because it does not help a lot in secondary school admission. My time, psle 228 also get into RI if you are gep.

 

Being in GEP does help in secondary school admission. Most of them get DSA offers into the top IP schools . 

[Sosaria]

For those with kids selected for the programme, congratulations !

 

However, just my suggestion : please discuss with the child the choice of school as well as whether to switch to GEP or not.

 

This will ensure commitment to the programme if he/she chose to go .

 

Once the child is in the programme, support but pls don't compare (no point because everyone also smart) .

 

just my thoughts.

The child has to sign and date the GEP acceptance form (presumably with no pressure from parents).

 

It also contains a statement of commitment to keep up with the demands of the programme.

Edited November 3, 2017 by Sosaria

[Cook123]

Just to share

My Son got in nyps after passing his Gep test in 2014. Yeah, spent 30kpa on tuition fees and prep courses for my children, damn ex.

Only 2 in his whole school passed the gep part 2. The other child went to taonan

At first he felt stressed. Cos in his old school every yr he would be TOP 5 or so and without much effort like that

When he went into nyps gep class every one seem expert. A few of his class mates parents are Doctors and Lawyers and one of his classmates is a senior minister Son

The lessons are also not the same as before. Lots of projects and presentations.

[Cook123]

2 children

They attend TLL at United sq

[Solar]

30kpa??? That is 2.5k per month... it is for more than 1 kid? That is how many children?

 

My kid tuition is $40/month maths olympiad inside her primary school. $150/month Berries for chinese, $250/month british council for English. Altogether is $440.... and the most useless one is the $250 for british council which we are canceling next year because I think her English is far better than her classmates in British council.

Winner already loh..30k is more than my first job annual pay.

 

My boy has tuition at Just education downstairs for English and Berries for Chinese.

He goes piano lessons cos he loves it. That's all tuition he has.

 

Ya, the math Olympiad in school also.

Like I mentioned earlier, he was selected for GEP without us even knowing.

No prep at all. Those tuition were for his mainstream.

 

Sounds like buying entry into GEP, pardon me for thinking this way.

But what's the point.. the child goes back to complete with other kids in secondary school.

Like others have said, they get prep for PSLE at second half of P6.

The kid can end up normal in secondary as there's no GEP.. So what's the point..

Edited November 4, 2017 by Solar

[Cook123]

I also think what’s the point of 30k pa on tuition

Personally I din attend a minute of tuition in my entire life

My Wife is the one arranging

However soon I recognise that times have changed

In his class and in the other gep classes some 90% of pple have tuition.

The norm has indeed changed

So in a way I am Glad that I did not stick to my old thinking

[Solar]

I also think whatâs the point of 30k pa on tuition

Personally I din attend a minute of tuition in my entire life

My Wife is the one arranging

However soon I recognise that times have changed

In his class and in the other gep classes some 90% of pple have tuition.

The norm has indeed changed

So in a way I am Glad that I did not stick to my old thinking

Women... Sigh...

If not for her insistence wouldn't send him for any tuition other than the piano lesson where his interests lie with..

[Newbie26]

Bro, your kids will be happier if you please your wife 

 

 

Women... Sigh...
If not for her insistence wouldn't send him for any tuition other than the piano lesson where his interests lie with..

 

[Sosaria]

Bro, your kids will be happier if you please your wife

Now this is something they don't teach you in school, GEP or not

 

Was reading the debate on tuition ... actually must distinguish between TUITION or ENRICHMENT class.

 

Tuition is the kind where they teach closely following the syllabus and content in school. Meant for kids to catch up and keep up with their subjects. Improve exam grade from D to A ... that's tuition.

 

Enrichment is the extra that does not follow syllabus, e.g. essay writing skills, math olympiad, etc.

 

Going for enrichment is acceptable if the kid is already able to handle the basics and want to improve further beyond what the teacher at school is teaching. Not that school teachers are no good but they have to handle an entire class and cannot focus on the faster / higher achiever students. That's where enrichment classes step in.

 

Occupying the kids' spare time fruitfully is also very important. Yes, less activities mean that they are more relaxed but too idle and they can get into all sorts of problems. That's where the bulk of social problems come from ... when parents let the kids run free and don't guide them to do meaningful things, learn something, etc.

Edited November 4, 2017 by Sosaria