2009 GEP Screening And Selection

[Zann]

Full.Cream:

maybe to some of us, it's like this. But from what I read here, ie, students crying when they are not selected for 2nd rd, I guess GEP is even MORE important than topping the school!!

Exactly, I was kind of confused later when reading the thread ... Thought the conversation began with student cry when heard did not get into round 1 and some parents feedback that their school made good arrangement for not releasing it openly... and so the principal for not being sensitive to openly announce. :?
I think PSLE is different, students work hard to see their own performance at end of 6 years, so they should take pride of their good results and be complimented to encourage the other to do the same. While in GEP selection process, it was intended to be sensitive and not to worry those who are not selected . Afterall, getting into GEP does not guarantee success in life and attitude is always more important in whatever we do.

[Merlion]

> so they should take pride of their good results and be complimented to encourage the other to do the same.


I think ALL good result should be treated equally; it does not matter if it is GEP or PSLE. For those who got selected for GEP should take pride of THIS good result too.

Of course GEP is just a small step in life, it does not guarantee anything. And it does not mean that all GEP kids are smarter. What I am saying here is I hope some parents can be fairer when it comes to GEP. It is wrong to assume that all those who got selected are trained. In fact, only a small portion of GEP kids are trained to do so. And these are the ones who might suffer deeply in GEP.

Let’s look at PSLE. It has the same problem too. There are kids who spend a lot of money to go to enrichment center to prepare their PSLE. There are also kids from poor family who can not afford that. So can the poor kid keep saying that it is unfair? What good does it do?
There are a lot of unfair things in this world. There are people who do not need to work as hard but still are rich because they have rich parents. Some hit 4D, some hit Toto. Some got promoted for being know how to kiss butt. The important thing is not to complain about it. The important thing is to teach your kid how to deal with it.

I have read some articles in this forum about how bad GEP is. And some of the parents do not quite understand what GEP is all about. They just assumed that "the kids got trained to get in" or "GEP kids got advantage when it comes to DSA". I can respect all these views but I also hope that some parents can see thing from different angles.

My intention is not to create a war here. I have equal respect for both GEP and mainstream kids who work hard and try their best. As parents, this is all we can ask from our kids.

[Merlion]

> I totally agree with you.. you sound like a teacher. Are you?


Sorry, I am not.

[Merlion]

> ie, students crying when they are not selected for 2nd rd, I guess GEP is even MORE important than topping the school!!


I think students cry mainly because of the high expectation and pressure from parents. If the parents have correct attitude towards GEP, this should not happen. And to be frank, there are also students cry when they do not do well in P6 prelim, some even wants to kill themselves. As parents, we should try to tell the kids what GEP is all about and let them know that it is ok if they do not get in.

[tony]

Merlion:

> Are GEP kids less rowdy?


I think you are talking about boys. There is no different between GEP and mainstream kids. Boys are boys and most of them are very playful at this age. I would not say that they are rough or rude or anything. One big difference is that they like to argue among themselves, even in class. GEP classrooms are never quiet as they like to ask a lot of questions, then argue a lot.

Tks, Merlion. At least he knows what to expect.

[JHFMum]

If parents send kids for GEP prep class for a yr and get them "trained" for GEP test, can you imagine the amount of pressure on the kids to get in? I pity such kids- if they get in via training, they may not cope well. If they do not get in, I wonder what they will think of themselves.


Parents, we will have to bear the consequences of our decisions.

[async28]

Can not ler.

I have tried to lower down my daughter expectation, but all her friends wanted to get into GEP :?

Merlion:

As parents, we should try to tell the kids what GEP is all about and let them know that it is ok if they do not get in.

[Puffer]

Merlion:

.... As parents, we should try to tell the kids what GEP is all about and let them know that it is ok if they do not get in.

I concur with your point.

I have been quite worried since DS1 came to a class of competitive and bright kids this year. He was third in his level in P2, but all of a sudden, his result deteriorated to 30s in mid-year. We seeked to see his form teacher (that was during the H1N1 period). We believed that DS1 had given up on himself and lost interest in his studies. Being sensitive and reserved, we tried to show him support, and encourage him till he is back to his self and rebuilt his confidence again. For the past week, I didn't harp on the issue of GEP screening result, although I half suspect the form teacher had not released it due to her absence in school. As it turned out, the relief teacher gave out the letters to the class today - 3/4 of the class got into the selection stage (inclu. DS1). Just now, I had a 1-to-1 talk with DS1 - I told him it was already an achievement for him to get into the 2nd round. Knowing him, I didn't want him to put too much pressure onto himself. (He just got his UNSW result as well and is in the top 2% for Science and 5% for Maths). I'm also afraid that his doing well might have 'repercussions' on his younger brother whos in P2. Sigh...not easy.

[david59]

I have a Pri 6 student in my before n after school centre who is in the GEP programme. I learnt from him how tough the GEP is. Even at Pri 5, they were already learning Maths beyond his peers, more like Seconday One Maths. Even for Science he is learning terms that are found in Secondary school textbook.

But the most important point I wish to make is that he is thoroughly enjoying what he is learning. He does not need any tution at all. In fact he feels bored at what the normal Pri Sixers are studying. He shared with me that some of his classmates are struggling and crying like crazy, trying to cope with the very high standard that GEP is required of them. We suspect that some of them might have got into the GEP through the help of those very expensive GEP tutorial classes.
Truly only the highly gifted or talented can take the grind out of the gruesome GEP demand! Who is the right candidate for GEP? I think only those who are highly self motivated and have a high degree of flair for Maths and Science. Of course, not forgetting all the others subjects too. Those who need to pump their kids with lot of GEP tutorials to get in, are more likely to bring harm to their kids. Anyway, no harm to let your kids go to the second round. Very few kids would make it. Hopefully not those who have to depend on lots of tutorials to get in lor. They will regret it.

[Merlion]

> highly self motivated and have a high degree of flair for Maths and Science


The selection test is based on Maths and English.
But once you are in GEP, you have to cope with very high standard of Maths, Science and English demands. Even now the GEP Chinese is getting harder than mainstream.