All About GEP

[sushi88]

I have asked this before.

The GE screening is such that if they do not fill up the seats, they do not try hard to fill it up if there are less qualifying numbers. Also, if they found more suitable kids they would take in more. So honestly, with this kind of +/- band, if the children cannot make it, they really cannot, not because the seats are taken up by the PRs or foreigners so they are not a cause at all.

[tyeogh]

If foreigners and PR can make up half our population, correspondingly there should be 250 foreigners and PR offered GEP. (Half of 500)


Depriving 250 citizen child a GEP education is a subject worthy of further discussion.

[mommyNg]

sushi88:

I have asked this before.

The GE screening is such that if they do not fill up the seats, they do not try hard to fill it up if there are less qualifying numbers. Also, if they found more suitable kids they would take in more. So honestly, with this kind of +/- band, if the children cannot make it, they really cannot, not because the seats are taken up by the PRs or foreigners so they are not a cause at all.

Sorry, I have to disagree, but please don't
I believe the \"cut-off\" to qualify for GEP program is not absolutely deterministic. Say MOE selected top 500 students based on the test scores for GEP program, but who is to say that the 501th child is less deserving, or less \"gifted\" than the 500th child? Ok. Even if MOE may be flexible to take in more \"suitable\" kids, again, say 25 more, who is to say that the 526th child is less deserving, or less \"gifted\" than the 525th child, or even the 498th child? So if there are 26 PRs/foreigner, taking them out would mean the 526th child (Singaporean) could get into the program, which does not mean this child is less \"gifted\", less deserving, less successful than the 26 PRs/foreigners. I understand that there must be a cut somewhere, but before we get hold of the numbers, it is still too early to say that the seats taken up by PRs or foreigners are not a cause for concern at all.....?

[sushi88]

mommyNg:

sushi88:

I have asked this before.

The GE screening is such that if they do not fill up the seats, they do not try hard to fill it up if there are less qualifying numbers. Also, if they found more suitable kids they would take in more. So honestly, with this kind of +/- band, if the children cannot make it, they really cannot, not because the seats are taken up by the PRs or foreigners so they are not a cause at all.

Sorry, I have to disagree, but please don't
I believe the \"cut-off\" to qualify for GEP program is not absolutely deterministic. Say MOE selected top 500 students based on the test scores for GEP program, but who is to say that the 501th child is less deserving, or less \"gifted\" than the 500th child? Ok. Even if MOE may be flexible to take in more \"suitable\" kids, again, say 25 more, who is to say that the 526th child is less deserving, or less \"gifted\" than the 525th child, or even the 498th child? So if there are 26 PRs/foreigner, taking them out would mean the 526th child (Singaporean) could get into the program, which does not mean this child is less \"gifted\", less deserving, less successful than the 26 PRs/foreigners. I understand that there must be a cut somewhere, but before we get hold of the numbers, it is still too early to say that the seats taken up by PRs or foreigners are not a cause for concern at all.....?

For discussion sake, I use the IQ test index.
If IQ > 130 is considered gifted, do you mean 129 can also be considered gifted? It is only 2 points from 131.

If >150 is considered exceptionally gifted, do you mean 149 also meets the mark of being exceptional?

Btw, this programme is for a different learning style. Nothing to do with less deserving, less successful. Success is in one's own hands.

[Nebbermind]

If we see gep as a reward or an award, we can add another 500 places and it’s still not enough.

[tyeogh]

mommyNg:

Sorry, I have to disagree, but please don't
I believe the \"cut-off\" to qualify for GEP program is not absolutely deterministic. Say MOE selected top 500 students based on the test scores for GEP program, but who is to say that the 501th child is less deserving, or less \"gifted\" than the 500th child? Ok. Even if MOE may be flexible to take in more \"suitable\" kids, again, say 25 more, who is to say that the 526th child is less deserving, or less \"gifted\" than the 525th child, or even the 498th child? So if there are 26 PRs/foreigner, taking them out would mean the 526th child (Singaporean) could get into the program, which does not mean this child is less \"gifted\", less deserving, less successful than the 26 PRs/foreigners. I understand that there must be a cut somewhere, but before we get hold of the numbers, it is still too early to say that the seats taken up by PRs or foreigners are not a cause for concern at all.....?

Good point!

We are discussing this subject (foreigner vs citizen in GEP) in an another thread - GEP Screening and Selection. Come join the discussion.

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=60810&start=720

[tyeogh]

Nebbermind:

If we see gep as a reward or an award, we can add another 500 places and it's still not enough.

True. But this is kiasu parents what. We are exhibiting our kiasu traits by grabbing everything for our children

[zakashi]

tyeogh:

Nebbermind:

If we see gep as a reward or an award, we can add another 500 places and it's still not enough.

True. But this is kiasu parents what. We are exhibiting our kiasu traits by grabbing everything for our children

I agreed with you guys. Otherwise left only crumbs. We ought to get the big bite right.

[zakashi]

tyeogh:

If foreigners and PR can make up half our population, correspondingly there should be 250 foreigners and PR offered GEP. (Half of 500)


Depriving 250 citizen child a GEP education is a subject worthy of further discussion.

Wow! I never though of that. I am really surprised. Thanks for highlighting this issue. Better to do something now! Is there any thread for this?

[mother777]

ha ha ha… don’t panic dear.

To get into GEP, you must pass the 2 rounds of exam first.
Do you really believe foreigner kids are way better than citizen kids or something like that?
GEP as such does not reserve seats based on your nationality…it clearly filters out and selects a children who meet their giftedness criteria (well not sure what that is)…its just a platform to groom the academically able kids…

So don’t worry and support your kids…groom them well and lets hope they take up most of the places in GEP…