All About GEP
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I'm impressed. You actually read through all 175 pages. :lol: Just a minor note, getting into GEP doesn't mean that you're grounded in the basics. It means that you have the intellectual capability to take the rigours of the demanding programme. The programme is demanding but very interesting and enjoyable for the ones who made it in on their own two feet. For those who hot-housed their way in, it is a terrible struggle. Great that you've got the right attitude.[/quote]
Hi jtoh. Yes, when someone gets into gep, there is a presumption that the child has the intellectual capacity to handle the program (unless actually don't have but trained and got in). I missed out that important ingredient in my sleepy state. Yes, read all pages to understand what goes on in the program in case dd gets in. Ahh..the sacrifices we parents make...
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sunflowermom:
My DS is in P5 GEP this year. He did not go through any training or tuition. However, he was selected into the programme (unexpectedly). Of course we were elated as everyone told us that he is truly gifted since he was not being trained. However, the nightmares started after he gets into the programme. Almost 80% of his friends attend enrichment classes (at least 1 subject), therefore they perform very well in the CT and EOY. Whereas my DS who was from a neighbourhood school, has a hard time catching up with those who were being trained as early as P1. These students had already learned whatever the school teachers teach, it was like revision for them and they even tell the teachers that they have attempted those questions in the enrichment centre. Within 6 months in the programme, my DS requested that I send him for classes as he felt left out and demoralised. We can only afford to send him to the nearby tuition centres which are not too exensive but they turned out to be not helping.
:goodpost:AppleCrumble:
[quote=\"jtoh\"]
I agree with you wholeheartedly that parents should not train their kids for the GEP selections tests because GEP isn't meant for the trainable. An above-average student can stay in mainstream and do extremely well there, topping the cohort all through P4-6, have a major boost in his confidence and still do very well. There's no need to force your child into GEP and have him suffer for 3 years and lose his confidence while struggling through the syllabus.
There are no parents with last laughs here. If your child is placed in the right learning environment for his ability and potential, both parent and child will be laughing. Different strokes for different folks.
Agree with jtoh. GEP does have its merits, especially for those young kids who thrive on a more rigorous curriculum.
Parents with P3 kids going for Round 2 Selection Test, please do NOT train your P3 child for it, if you would like to see a happy child for the next 3 years. It's the last 3 years of their precious childhood before they become teenagers.
:lol:
So parents, i do not know whether my DS is gifted or not as now he is one of the weakest in his school. He is not particularly weak or strong in any subject. We can only support him and try our best to guide him along.
I hope parents whose kids are going for the round 2 and wished that their kids can get into the GE, be prepared that the programme is tough (but a very good learning curve) and very challenging. Do not think that GEP sure good, so die die also must get in.[/quote]Thanks for sharing. Your post is particularly relevant at this time. But now I don't know what to hope for?!... :idea: I know! I will hope for a good fit whatever the outcome is! -
aqeqiq:
Yup, just take things one at the time. If your child eventually gets selected for the GEP program, you can then seriously consider whether or not to let her take up the program.
Thanks for sharing. Your post is particularly relevant at this time. But now I don't know what to hope for?!... :idea: I know! I will hope for a good fit whatever the outcome is!
Anyway, that's what I intend to do. Why fret now when the child is not even selected yet? Good luck to all the 4000+ kids (if all of them are eventually taking) next week! :celebrate: -
keroppi:
My sincere apology, TREX8.
Oops, I did that post not because I'm offended by jtoh or keroppi's posting - which reflects a typical GEP class environment where there are kids who are 'gifted' in Math and/or English. During the GEP briefing, we were told that GEP kids tend to be 'gifted' in different areas (they used a term for it, but I can't recall), though there are some who are all-rounded.
The purpose of my post is to highlight, using my DD as an example, that even gep kids who didn't undergo special training to be selected (and hence, should be considered 'gifted' by MOE's criteria) could face difficulty coping with the GEP syllabus. So those who got in through training might find it even more challenging to cope.
DD enjoys GEP as she has her strong areas - in English language and Social Studies (she frequently is amongst the top few for English and Social Studies) and finds the work stimulating and challenging.
She does spend more time on Math (doing school and LL math worksheets) but breezes through her English, Science and Social Studies projects/portfolio.
She is confident, copes well (maintaining above 80% for overall) and spends a reasonable amount of time on homework (she goes to bed between 9.30 to 10pm).
So my concern is for those who got in through training - whether will these kids be able to cope with the demands of the curriculum, and whether their self-esteem will take a beating or not. Of course, this is just my personal opinion. -
sunflowermom:
Thanks for sharing. Take heart that the toughest year for GEP is in P5. Things will get less stressful and easier in P6 as the kids start preparing for PSLE in Term 3. Dare we say even boring? That's how some GEP students feel about P6.
My DS is in P5 GEP this year. He did not go through any training or tuition. However, he was selected into the programme (unexpectedly). Of course we were elated as everyone told us that he is truly gifted since he was not being trained. However, the nightmares started after he gets into the programme. Almost 80% of his friends attend enrichment classes (at least 1 subject), therefore they perform very well in the CT and EOY. Whereas my DS who was from a neighbourhood school, has a hard time catching up with those who were being trained as early as P1. These students had already learned whatever the school teachers teach, it was like revision for them and they even tell the teachers that they have attempted those questions in the enrichment centre. Within 6 months in the programme, my DS requested that I send him for classes as he felt left out and demoralised. We can only afford to send him to the nearby tuition centres which are not too exensive but they turned out to be not helping.
So parents, i do not know whether my DS is gifted or not as now he is one of the weakest in his school. He is not particularly weak or strong in any subject. We can only support him and try our best to guide him along.
I hope parents whose kids are going for the round 2 and wished that their kids can get into the GE, be prepared that the programme is tough (but a very good learning curve) and very challenging. Do not think that GEP sure good, so die die also must get in. -
Wonder what type of pupils the GEP is attracting nowadays. Looks like many have to report to enrichment centres for more advance training just to maintain their comparative advangtage. Maybe, MOE can study the possibility of outsoucing this function to private centres just as they had done away with gifted programme for high schools.
MOE has on recent years introduced new initiatives such as IP, Sports school, NUS High, SOTA and joint programmes with top unis with our local unis. These initiatives are very good and well received. Maybe its time to abolish the GEP P4-P6 as it doesn’t suit the circumstances going into the future.
Regarding scholarship, it seems that while the so called gifted programme grads had benifited immensely from the programme as claimed by many here, it doen’t seem to show the same specular results as far as leadership and interview skills are concern. Despite the various project work and presentation skills they had acquired, many were unable to come across effectively in the PSC selection interviews. There were rejected inspite of top academic honours and stella cca and cip records.
It is very clear that MOE has done an excellent job in levelling the playing field between the different paths in the educational arena. Nowadays, an increasing number of scholarship recipents had once attended ordinary schools.
So my opinion is that there isn’t any distinct advantage whether one is in a mainstream or GEP as far as upper primary is concern. -
My children did not make it to GEP programme. We would have definitely enrolled them for the programme if they were selected. But we did not send them for any prep courses and no regrets for that.
I congratulate those children who have the opportunity to join the GEP programme where they can be challenged, stretched from such young age. One can choose to think it is stress and pressure at a young age, but it could also be interesting and less boring for the gifted ones. From what I see, most in the programme are enjoying it rather than feeling too stressed.
On the other hand, my DS who studies in IP school is doing very well despite coming from mainstream. He gets along very well with his peers including those in GEP streams and does not feel inferior when it comes to academic, project or presentation even though the GEP students supposedly had a headstart.
Someone said in an earlier thread that not every student aspires to get government scholarships. I totally agree. I don’t think we can link the success of any programme to the number of students getting PSC scholarships.
Let’s be supportive of our children and encourage them to take up the challenge when given the opportunity, GEP or not. -
Nebbermind:
Heard of similar cases too.I have personally know someone whose kid was academic award winner every year but did not even make it pass Rd 1. A big blow to the kid and also invited alot of bitching by both parents and fellow students behind the kid's back. very sad situation.
I used to be against such training but now more opened. For me, it you are trainable, then WHY NOT?
To send or not to send for GEP training
My neighbhour is half hearted whether to send her ds for GEP training.
On one hand, she feels that it's money down the drain since he probably doesn't NEED it. He is a member of Mensa, obtained high distinctions in all ICAS papers, top his cohort. Yet on the other hand, she has this nagging thought telling her 'just in case', afterall no harm having more practice?
Her ds day dreams in class the entire time. Principal told her to wait for GEP screening since the school does not have extra resources to allocate any attention to her ds. And IF for whatever reason he is not selected, he has to suffer for another 3 years?
Indeed a difficult decision :roll:
Hi Parents
What do you think? Hers is not hothoused kind
So to send or not to send for GEP training in this situtation :scratchhead: -
sleepy:
Sleepy, the prep course does not warrent getting thru the GEP selection test either. Base on what you mentioned about the profile of the child, he may still be in a twining programme (eg NHPS) to enjoy doing some GEP courses such as Social Studies , IR, HCL etc. It used to be a \"privillage\" for GEP students but now it is not true anymore.
Heard of similar cases too.Nebbermind:
I have personally know someone whose kid was academic award winner every year but did not even make it pass Rd 1. A big blow to the kid and also invited alot of bitching by both parents and fellow students behind the kid's back. very sad situation.
I used to be against such training but now more opened. For me, it you are trainable, then WHY NOT?
To send or not to send for GEP training
My neighbhour is half hearted whether to send her ds for GEP training.
On one hand, she feels that it's money down the drain since he probably doesn't NEED it. He is a member of Mensa, obtained high distinctions in all ICAS papers, top his cohort. Yet on the other hand, she has this nagging thought telling her 'just in case', afterall no harm having more practice?
Her ds day dreams in class the entire time. Principal told her to wait for GEP screening since the school does not have extra resources to allocate any attention to her ds. And IF for whatever reason he is not selected, he has to suffer for another 3 years?
Indeed a difficult decision :roll:
Hi Parents
What do you think? Hers is not hothoused kind
So to send or not to send for GEP training in this situtation :scratchhead: -
sleepy:
sorry to be blunt....if he is selected without any tuition that means he is real gifted...if without tuition he is not qualify for the gep then ....maybe he is not good enough compare to the top 1% kids who are selected and be it lor..... I have heard of kid who are bored during lesson from p1 to p3 and get enroll into gep but struggle in it....SO...
Heard of similar cases too.Nebbermind:
I have personally know someone whose kid was academic award winner every year but did not even make it pass Rd 1. A big blow to the kid and also invited alot of bitching by both parents and fellow students behind the kid's back. very sad situation.
I used to be against such training but now more opened. For me, it you are trainable, then WHY NOT?
To send or not to send for GEP training
My neighbhour is half hearted whether to send her ds for GEP training.
On one hand, she feels that it's money down the drain since he probably doesn't NEED it. He is a member of Mensa, obtained high distinctions in all ICAS papers, top his cohort. Yet on the other hand, she has this nagging thought telling her 'just in case', afterall no harm having more practice?
Her ds day dreams in class the entire time. Principal told her to wait for GEP screening since the school does not have extra resources to allocate any attention to her ds. And IF for whatever reason he is not selected, he has to suffer for another 3 years?
Indeed a difficult decision :roll:
Hi Parents
What do you think? Hers is not hothoused kind
So to send or not to send for GEP training in this situtation :scratchhead:
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