All About GEP

[ChiefKiasu]

tamarind:

...Actually I think that high income families can afford to send their children overseas, even without government scholarship. These students are also more likely to break the bond...

That is precisely the point. It is not the money offered by the \"scholarship\" that the well-off families need - it is the prestige that comes with the \"scholar\" label that everybody, rich or poor, wants. However, as you pointed out, the richer families can afford to pay off the bond at the end of the scholarship - and still retain the scholar title. To be fair, meritocracy cannot discriminate based on wealth. But in the process, this person could be depriving a less wealthy student a chance for an overseas education. One can argue that the less wealthy student didn't do as well in the examinations, and so is less deserving. But one can also argue that the less well-off student have less opportunity to prepare better for the exams.

I fear that the GEP, though well-intended, could be degenerating into the same situation. GEP is now used as a yardstick for academic success, just like the term scholar. This drives some parents to try to prepare their children for GEP, going against the very purpose of the programme. This hurts both bright children who get into the programme but cannot keep up, and truly gifted children who are late bloomers and did not make it into the programme due to less exposure to the topics required for the tests.

[tamarind]

ChiefKiasu:

That is precisely the point. It is not the money offered by the \"scholarship\" that the well-off families need - it is the prestige that comes with the \"scholar\" label that everybody, rich or poor, wants. However, as you pointed out, the richer families can afford to pay off the bond at the end of the scholarship - and still retain the scholar title. To be fair, meritocracy cannot discriminate based on wealth. But in the process, this person could be depriving a less wealthy student a chance for an overseas education. One can argue that the less wealthy student didn't do as well in the examinations, and so is less deserving. But one can also argue that the less well-off student have less opportunity to prepare better for the exams.

I fear that the GEP, though well-intended, could be degenerating into the same situation. GEP is now used as a yardstick for academic success, just like the term scholar. This drives some parents to try to prepare their children for GEP, going against the very purpose of the programme. This hurts both bright children who get into the programme but cannot keep up, and truly gifted children who are late bloomers and did not make it into the programme due to less exposure to the topics required for the tests.

I feel that the more people who are educated by the prestigious overseas universities, the better. The government should be considering whether the scholars are more likely to serve the country, and more likely to work in Singapore until the day they retire. IMHO the government should not be concerned about distributing prestige to everybody. \"Equal distribution of prestige\" is not going to help this country in any way.

I remember reading in the newspapers last year when the GCE A level results were out. In RJC, a large number of students get As for all subjects. So I am sure that there are more than enough students with perfect scores, from rich/middle/poor families, which the government can choose to give scholarships to.

The problem with the GEP, is that the selection process is such that it allows parents to prepare their kids, by cramming them with advanced knowledge. That gives high income families an advantage, because they can afford to send their kids to the best GEP preparatory schools. The selection process should be changed to better identity the child with the highest learning ability, and more importantly, one who truly loves to learn.

[corneyAmber]

tamarind:

The problem with the GEP, is that the selection process is such that it allows parents to prepare their kids, by cramming them with advanced knowledge. That gives high income families an advantage, because they can afford to send their kids to the best GEP preparatory schools. The selection process should be changed to better identity the child with the highest learning ability, and more importantly, one who truly loves to learn.

Tamarind, regarding the scholarship issue, I too have a view that there should be a separate scholarship offerred to those who need it financially and one offer to those who needs it for branding purposes. Alternatively, based on same scholarship system but the quantum of support can vary, just like the Spring grant application for companies. If the household income is higher, the value supported can be lower and if hsehold income lower, they can get more support, in that way, it is up to the wealthy to decide if they still want this prestige. And also with such a scheme, more needy kids can be funded since less fund needed for the wealthy ones who just want the honour of a scholar.

As for the GEP preparatory class, if it is true that those who cannot make it are identified and returned to mainstream, then let people prepare.

My take is if prepared kids can remain good in the GEP program, I have no issue because it shows that at least they have the gift of perseverence to maintain themselves in the course. And if they cannot, they will have to face the possibility of returning to mainstream.

As for those truly gifted but do not get thru the test, it is unfortunate that there is no alternative for them to re-enter GEP program again.

[lizawa]

ks2me:

As for those truly gifted but do not get thru the test, it is unfortunate that there is no alternative for them to re-enter GEP program again.

They cannot choose to re-enter the Primary GEP but there is always another chance at the secondary level, at least for the 2 IP schools I know. For RI and HCI, at Sec 1, they actually group the students who were from GEP Primary and mainstream into different classes. But if you have performed exceptionally well during the DSA entrance exam, they will place you with the GEP students in Sec 1. But eventually, by end Sec 2, the students of both streams will be \"on par\".

The GEP program is supposed to be robust, intellectually challenging and requires lots of independent study. So for late bloomers who are not picked up at P3 level, this will be another opportunity for them. And I have heard stories that not all GEP Primary students do well at secondary level.

[tamarind]

ks2me:

Tamarind, regarding the scholarship issue, I too have a view that there should be a separate scholarship offerred to those who need it financially and one offer to those who needs it for branding purposes. Alternatively, based on same scholarship system but the quantum of support can vary, just like the Spring grant application for companies. If the household income is higher, the value supported can be lower and if hsehold income lower, they can get more support, in that way, it is up to the wealthy to decide if they still want this prestige. And also with such a scheme, more needy kids can be funded since less fund needed for the wealthy ones who just want the honour of a scholar.

I totally agree with your proposal

I think they should just come out with the something to honour the top students, it does not have to be scholarships. It could be just to have their names engraved in a prominent place in the Istana :lol: Or ask the president to shake hands and take photos will do :lol: That should be good enough to bring honor to the family.

I feel that if we have 2 students who have the perfect scores, the scholarship should go to the one whose family has a lower income. I heard a rumor, don't know whether it is true or not, that if a student has special skills like knowing how to play the piano, then he has a higher chance of getting scholarships ? This again, is elitist, because lower income families may not be able to send their kids for music lessons.

[Emelyn]

Can anyone advise me where I can send my son for GEP training ?

Sorry for being so shallow, but I think this is the only way to go. It is for my son’s future !!

Imagine having a PSLE score of 240 and can still get into ACS(I), just because you are from GEP. That’s really very attractive.

Sad Sad.

Forced by circumstances !!

[corneyAmber]

lizawa:

ks2me:

As for those truly gifted but do not get thru the test, it is unfortunate that there is no alternative for them to re-enter GEP program again.

They cannot choose to re-enter the Primary GEP but there is always another chance at the secondary level, at least for the 2 IP schools I know. For RI and HCI, at Sec 1, they actually group the students who were from GEP Primary and mainstream into different classes. But if you have performed exceptionally well during the DSA entrance exam, they will place you with the GEP students in Sec 1. But eventually, by end Sec 2, the students of both streams will be \"on par\".

The GEP program is supposed to be robust, intellectually challenging and requires lots of independent study. So for late bloomers who are not picked up at P3 level, this will be another opportunity for them. And I have heard stories that not all GEP Primary students do well at secondary level.

Thanks Lizawa, good to know that there is an alternative for the kids who missed the boat.

[lizawa]

Emelyn:

Imagine having a PSLE score of 240 and can still get into ACS(I), just because you are from GEP. That's really very attractive.

!!

If the child can get in ACS(I) with 240, he must have gone through the DSA path. It's not necessary that all GEPers will get offered through DSA, but many will. Your child still need to sit through all the various tests / interviews before he is offered. A bright child in mainstream can surely score more than 240. The top student in most neighbourhood schools do score more than 265, in the past few years. Last year was really an exception, maybe 270 - 280 ?

[corneyAmber]

tamarind:

I totally agree with your proposal

I think they should just come out with the something to honour the top students, it does not have to be scholarships. It could be just to have their names engraved in a prominent place in the Istana :lol: Or ask the president to shake hands and take photos will do :lol: That should be good enough to bring honor to the family.

I feel that if we have 2 students who have the perfect scores, the scholarship should go to the one whose family has a lower income. I heard a rumor, don't know whether it is true or not, that if a student has special skills like knowing how to play the piano, then he has a higher chance of getting scholarships ? This again, is elitist, because lower income families may not be able to send their kids for music lessons.

Yr idea is a good one since all funds can go to needy kids.

During our time, learning piano is probably elitist but learning music has probably become more affordable for many people like handphones?? Cos everyone I know has kids who are learning some form of music. I suppose all being equal, they need to find an alternative talent for differentiation. I hope they will consider all aspects of achievements (including community work) as long as they are outstanding in it.

[metz]

tamarind:

I heard a rumor, don't know whether it is true or not, that if a student has special skills like knowing how to play the piano, then he has a higher chance of getting scholarships ? This again, is elitist, because lower income families may not be able to send their kids for music lessons.

Heard from my sil's that some neighbourhood schools do offer elitist programs such as golf, violin etc... Besides, if I'm not wrong, cc do provide some programs at lower costs too. So, kids from the lower income families are not really being deprived.