GEP 2010 - Screening & Selection

[thmejlfm]

Hi! I am new here.


Today, my DD brought a thick and big yellow envelope back from school. She was selected for the GEP program. :lol:

But, she refused to change school. In her class, there were 5 of them went in the GEP. So scary!

As for the GEP, I was very happy that my girl went in. Also very confused. Don't should I suit her decision or change school.

One reason is my 2nd DD next year Pr 1. If the eldest changed school, then I will be very busy going two different schools.

Second reason is afraid that if go to the GEP, my DD will be very stressed. Heard that there will be a lot of homework and projects for them to do.

3rd reason is my 2nd DD will be very pressurized becos of her elder sister.

:scratchhead: :scratchhead:

Actually, I also not very sure what will GEP benefit the child if they take this course. Any advise?

Please help.

[vlim]

thmejlfm:

Hi! I am new here.


Today, my DD brought a thick and big yellow envelope back from school. She was selected for the GEP program. :lol:

But, she refused to change school. In her class, there were 5 of them went in the GEP. So scary!

As for the GEP, I was very happy that my girl went in. Also very confused. Don't should I suit her decision or change school.

One reason is my 2nd DD next year Pr 1. If the eldest changed school, then I will be very busy going two different schools.

Second reason is afraid that if go to the GEP, my DD will be very stressed. Heard that there will be a lot of homework and projects for them to do.

3rd reason is my 2nd DD will be very pressurized becos of her elder sister.

:scratchhead: :scratchhead:

Actually, I also not very sure what will GEP benefit the child if they take this course. Any advise?

Please help.

ge programme can further stretch and nurture a child academically. If your dd has high academic ability and u are very eager to see how far she can be stretch..then gep is definitely a yes to go.
As for your younger dd, you can transfer her to the same school which her sis is going. Call up the school and make the necessary arrangement. For my case, my ds and younger dd are also 3 yrs apart but I choose not to transfer her to the same school as my ds and I think is pretty fine.

[piggybank]

You’ve a happy problem there. Hmm… I know of ex GEP student, now already a working adult. He completed local uni education just like any one of us, GEP education didn’t seem to add value to his current career. However, if my son were to come back with that thick envelope, I would probably encourage him to take it up, after all it is once in a lifetime chance for an unique experience within the local educational system. Bearing in mind, that this chance is earned by the child himself. Despite the logistic problems (eg. transportation, new school, new uniform, new books) involve.


By the way, my son didn’t come home with any envelope, thick or thin, I wonder why, maybe, the school decide to give out the "thin" envelope during the meet the parent session this Friday. Any waiting parent out there also hasn’t receive any envelope?

[thmejlfm]

Thank you for the replies.


If the 2nd child can go with the elder, will be better. One problem solved!

If not much benefit, why we have to stress the kid with all the homework and projects.

End up, the parent will be stressed also, am I right?

[piggybank]

Putting in perspective, some parents go through "hell" to get their kids to "heavenly" elite primary schools, now you child has personally earned the most elitist place in the Singapore primary educational system. Why let this chance go ? Unless you are really so "Zen".

[piggybank]

And repeating my envelope question, anyone still waiting for envelope ? It’s like waiting for a retrenchment envelope… hehe.

[thmejlfm]

Sorry, what is 'zen'?


Because my girl refused to change. That's why I don't know how.

Should I suit her or should I insist? In the first place, I would like to know whether will this program her in the future or not.

That's why I need some advise.

piggybank:

Putting in perspective, some parents go through \"hell\" to get their kids to \"heavenly\" elite primary schools, now you child has personally earned the most elitist place in the Singapore primary educational system. Why let this chance go ? Unless you are really so \"Zen\".

[aqeqiq]

My kiddo did not get offered the gep but she's ok about it. We decided against preparing her and are happy she got through the 1st round on her own. It has been fun following this forum through our gep selection journey and I sure learnt quite a bit about our primary education system!


Congratulations to all the kiddos who were successful. :celebrate:

[mommyNg]

thmejlfm:

Sorry, what is 'zen'?


Because my girl refused to change. That's why I don't know how.

Should I suit her or should I insist? In the first place, I would like to know whether will this program her in the future or not.

That's why I need some advise.

hi thmejlfm, my kids not of \"GEP-age\" yet, so no personal experiences to share. But I do know my friend's dd, 3 years ago got selected to GEP, but chose not to take it up (i.e. dun wan to change school). She continued to excel in her current school (which is one of the well-sought-after schools along Bukit Timah), got lots of awards & opportunities (e.g. top girl of school), and now got DSA offer to RGS.

I also read that other KSPers whose dd or ds chose to remain in their current school rather than change school to join GEP programme, are also doing very well in their current non-GEP schools.

My take is that, when a child is selected into GEP programme, it means he or she is supposedly the top 1% of the cohort, so academically-wise the child would still do well whichever school he or she chose to be in (i.e. can't be too bad!!). IMHO, you have to help your child decide if the GEP programme suits your dd. Cos' there would be children who find the programme very interesting and stimulating, while there would be others who thrive better otherwise. Perhaps both of you could go to the briefing, and also try to find a current GEP student whom she could talk with, to understand the programme better, and then make a decision then.

Good luck in your journey!!

[thmejlfm]

Thank you for your reply.


That's why I told my DH, I wanted my DD to take the test, was just to see she stand. If she is gifted, don't need to change school, also can achieve good result from the present school and go to good Secondary school. Don't force the child, when she don't want.

But, my DH said otherwise. headache!

mommyNg:

thmejlfm:

Sorry, what is 'zen'?

Because my girl refused to change. That's why I don't know how.

Should I suit her or should I insist? In the first place, I would like to know whether will this program her in the future or not.

That's why I need some advise.

hi thmejlfm, my kids not of \"GEP-age\" yet, so no personal experiences to share. But I do know my friend's dd, 3 years ago got selected to GEP, but chose not to take it up (i.e. dun wan to change school). She continued to excel in her current school (which is one of the well-sought-after schools along Bukit Timah), got lots of awards & opportunities (e.g. top girl of school), and now got DSA offer to RGS.

I also read that other KSPers whose dd or ds chose to remain in their current school rather than change school to join GEP programme, are also doing very well in their current non-GEP schools.

My take is that, when a child is selected into GEP programme, it means he or she is supposedly the top 1% of the cohort, so academically-wise the child would still do well whichever school he or she chose to be in (i.e. can't be too bad!!). IMHO, you have to help your child decide if the GEP programme suits your dd. Cos' there would be children who find the programme very interesting and stimulating, while there would be others who thrive better otherwise. Perhaps both of you could go to the briefing, and also try to find a current GEP student whom she could talk with, to understand the programme better, and then make a decision then.

Good luck in your journey!!