2009 GEP Screening And Selection
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justbehappy:
I know that one top school accept GEP students that are way below their COP.MdmKS:
Butthen why mainstream students need 262 and above to offer EESIS while they don't need to? This is something which many feel unfair for the mainstream students.
EESIS COP may be higher, in 2007 it was 264. Anyway, agree that this is unfair to mainstream students .. it's strange why GEP students do not have to satisfy this reqmt, I wonder how many % of the GEP actually get below the EESIS COP, anyone has statistics?
If we felt a student is gifted, and had an alternative program for them, then I think it is wrong to judge them based on their PSLE score alone. That would defeat the purpose of the program in the first place.
Exam scores mean very little. Even international exams. For example, I had seen so many extremely high scorers of TOEFL that can't even write a proper sentence of English. -
glchua:
I know that one top school accept GEP students that are way below their COP.justbehappy:
[quote=\"MdmKS\"]Butthen why mainstream students need 262 and above to offer EESIS while they don't need to? This is something which many feel unfair for the mainstream students.
EESIS COP may be higher, in 2007 it was 264. Anyway, agree that this is unfair to mainstream students .. it's strange why GEP students do not have to satisfy this reqmt, I wonder how many % of the GEP actually get below the EESIS COP, anyone has statistics?
If we felt a student is gifted, and had an alternative program for them, then I think it is wrong to judge them based on their PSLE score alone. That would defeat the purpose of the program in the first place.
Exam scores mean very little. Even international exams. For example, I had seen so many extremely high scorers of TOEFL that can't even write a proper sentence of English.[/quote]My point is not about GEP students being accepted below the school's COP. It is common for both GEP and mainstream students being accepted into Top secondary schools for scoring far below the schools' COP, either through DSA or appeal. I was talking about the EESIS, which means a GEP who scores 240 can save $200 per month of school fees at independent schools. With this discrepancy in EESIS for GEP and mainstream, I won't be surprised if some far-sighted and \"calculative\" parents would invest $$ to get their children into GEP, as they could save $$ eventually, even if their kids score mediocre score in the PSLE. -
justbehappy:
...I was talking about the EESIS, which means a GEP who scores 240 can save $200 per month of school fees at independent schools. With this discrepancy in EESIS for GEP and mainstream, I won't be surprised if some far-sighted and \"calculative\" parents would invest $$ to get their children into GEP, as they could save $$ eventually, even if their kids score mediocre score in the PSLE.
Good point. Unfortunately there was no KS parent forum during my kids' time. Otherwise I sure try my best to get them to GEP - 1 year's saving is $2400, 6 years will be $14,400. 3 kids will be $43,200 Wow! -
MdmKS:
Mainstream students who are talented in sport or other domains and offered DSA are not given EESIS to subsidise them at IP independent schools if they do not meet the COP for their PSLE T-score.[/quote]Students accepted through Sports DSA have subsidies too. I know because my friend's child enjoys this at an IP school.justbehappy:
[quote=\"MdmKS\"]Butthen why mainstream students need 262 and above to offer EESIS while they don't need to? This is something which many feel unfair for the mainstream students.
EESIS COP may be higher, in 2007 it was 264. Anyway, agree that this is unfair to mainstream students .. it's strange why GEP students do not have to satisfy this reqmt, I wonder how many % of the GEP actually get below the EESIS COP, anyone has statistics? -
turquoise:
Students accepted through Sports DSA have subsidies too. I know because my friend's child enjoys this at an IP school.
All of them? At all top IP Indep schools? Same amt as EESIS? How about the others DSA mainstreamers? -
david59:
There's a difference between having an insatiable urge and desire to acquire more knowledge and the competitive urge to stay on top of the cohort by learning ahead. By learning ahead, one attempts to study one or few levels higher than his cohort for the purpose of staying on top/being there first or simply, not to lose out. By acquiring knowledge based on the motivation & passion, one looks into the depth and breath of the areas of interest - the knowledge gained will most likely not be tested in an examination, even for the next few levels up. Purpose is just for self satisfaction. A few years back, I've heard of a pri school boy (a GEPer) who has a passion for 'gem' stones. Besides collecting them, he reads up on the topic and could rattle on about the various stones. This is an example of an insatiable urge to acquire knowledge out of interest.
I think it is not a question of trying to be ahead that is an issue. Rather it is whether the kid has an insatiable urge and desire to acquire more knowledge for a particular subject or interest/ skill. It would be wrong to stifle such kids. Another alternative would be to send such kids besides the normal school curriculum to specialise institutions like the Polytechnic or Uni to advance their quest for greater knowledge or skills.glchua:
Even if a kid is capable of studying at a higher level, what is the point of studying ahead? Wouldn't the time be better spent doing other things, like experimentation and play?
Unless of course, the sole aim in life is just to get a few pieces of paper. -
found these at the MOE website
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissions/secondary-one-posting/general-information/edusave-scholarships/
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissions/secondary-one-posting/general-information/singapore-moe-award/
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissions/secondary-one-posting/general-information/financial-assistance-bursaries/ -
atutor2001:
Same argument holds. If a child is in GEP, he had been identified in some way as \"gifted\", then he should be allowed all perks that are granted to mainstream students.justbehappy:
...I was talking about the EESIS, which means a GEP who scores 240 can save $200 per month of school fees at independent schools. With this discrepancy in EESIS for GEP and mainstream, I won't be surprised if some far-sighted and \"calculative\" parents would invest $$ to get their children into GEP, as they could save $$ eventually, even if their kids score mediocre score in the PSLE.
Good point. Unfortunately there was no KS parent forum during my kids' time. Otherwise I sure try my best to get them to GEP - 1 year's saving is $2400, 6 years will be $14,400. 3 kids will be $43,200 Wow!
Of course, parents can try to abuse the system by trying all means to get their child into GEP to save money. Well, you can also get your child to do well in sports etc.
I think what MOE is doing is to take away as much as possible this focus on PSLE results and to allow talented kids (in one way or another) to pursue their interests and to develop. If not, parents would be directing the kids to excel in PSLE at all cost. -
glchua:
I totally agree with what you say. There is nothing more powerful than constructive boredom. The freedom to think things through and carry out without the \"constraints\" of a structured, \"taught\" approach is essential. All knowledge does not begin and end with a worksheet, and all knowledge gained should not be for the purpose of regurgitation on a piece of paper to score top marks. Where's the fun? In learning, the ability to be comfortable in unfamiliar territory and be able to see patterns in a sea of murky evidence distinguishes the gifted learner from the typical learner.
My point is that kids like this may be better off doing things extra-curricular in their free time.
For example, research into a subject that the kid is interested in. Electronics projects, physics exploration, robotics project, computer programming, biology and chemistry even. Obviously the kid will need to learn a subject in more depth to do such work, but most importantly, time is spent tinkering with things, coming up with solutions etc, not finding answers in which the answer is already there in the back of the book.
In my field, I had seen people with lesser academic credentials achieving much more in their research than people who scored As. These people has no fear of giving \"wrong\" answers and have less respect for the status quo. I, myself, am still unlearning my learning.
I had a colleague once. He had studied overseas almost the whole of his life. He tinkered with many things from young in his free time (he is still tinkering with things now). He probably has a lot of free time because his parents were not there with him! Anyway, his solutions to problems are remarkable and it takes some leap of faith at times to find such solutions. He is definitely smart, but most importantly, he is able to explore, a skill he had learnt since young.
By the way, many eminent scientists were bored kids that burnt down garden sheds, fixed radios and hang out in the woods often.
Academic knowledge should be viewed as a tool, not as an end in itself. Focusing on grades and exams and using the \"gift\" to generate good grades and jump ahead is I think, a waste of the \"gift\". -
MdmKS:
Obviously scholarships aren't awarded to everyone. They're given to the best and most deserving. Otherwise what's the point of a scholarship if everyone gets it? That's why for those who don't qualify academically, there are subsidies for sports students etc and bursaries. There are some awarded by MOE and others which are school-based.turquoise:
Students accepted through Sports DSA have subsidies too. I know because my friend's child enjoys this at an IP school.
All of them? At all top IP Indep schools? Same amt as EESIS? How about the others DSA mainstreamers?
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