2009 GEP Screening And Selection

[acforfamily]

glchua:

Unless GEP means less homework, which I seriously doubt so.

Not sure whether this is representative or not, but I do know of a child who seems to have very little homework in his GEP class. So much so the mum was worried about what he was being taught. Maybe he finished it all in school?

[vlim]

glchua:

jesschan:

Hi, me too! But contrary to many of you, I am just curious to know whether my boy can pass the second selection test because we have already decided that it is better for him to stay in the mainstream even if he is selected, after analysing the pros and cons.

I believe my boy is above average quality but not to the extend of \"gifted\". I think putting him in a class of truly gifted kids will put us under too much stress and I know that he thrives better when he can lead from the front. Currently, he enjoys going to school and has plenty of time for sports which he likes. I think that is very important for a child.

Exactly my thoughts about my son!

My boy don't do sports but I rather he can enjoy a proper childhood.

Unless GEP means less homework, which I seriously doubt so.

No man.. the gep is a programme to further 'stretch' the gifted kids brain.. :roll:

[john.09525316]

Puffer:

keroppi:

[quote=\"Puffer\"]How would we know if the results are released - via school or mail to us parents? And for those who do not make it, would they still be notified? TIA

Via school. Those who qualify will each be given a large envelope holding all the GEP information. Good luck to all parents!!

Meaning if we don't get a large envelope from our kids by first week of Nov, we can say bye bye to GEP? :lol:[/quote]I saw my friend son holding a large \"Yellow\" envelop.

so you can imagine on that day those children holding a \"yellow\" envelop walking or waiting in the school, or travel by Bus /MRT, that child is selected into GEP program.

I saw the joy on both my friend and his kid face, it was rather difficult to describe, on one hand is a joy and on the hand my friend know that the journey is not a smooth and easy one.

This friend of mine his son did ok so far in the GEP program.

All the best to all wanted to be GEPer's parents.

[watmekiasu]

keroppi:

I think so. Unsuccessful candidates will not receive any form of notification from MOE.

This is such a typical Singapore style - and not a good one. It's similar to when you're unsuccessful in a job application, they do not even bother to contact you. A \"We regret to inform you.......\" letter or email would improve their image by miles.

[hopeless]

vlim:

sorry .. just to clarify.. what u mean by 'hosting school' is the school that use to host gep screening tests? Well if u mean that u might get us wrong as what we are saying are the 9 pri schools that have gep classes usually have higher number of students qualified for gep.

Yes. Hosting schools are schools conducting GEP classes.

[corneyAmber]

atutor2001:

ks2me:

We might be going a little into \"analysis paralysis\" syndrome here on GEP. To me, we assume the GEP system is fair unless we have a better way to offer. .... .

Hi ks2me

I think you get me wrong. \"fairness\" of the GEP test was not my concern but rather the accuracy of the selection results, inevitably, caused by the limitation of having to set the tests in English as it is our medium of instruction - we cannot hide from it. I have gone through this process and only wish to share with others that they must be aware of this \"imperfection\" in the testing method and think through carefully before deciding whether to send their kids to GEP.

The estimate of 30% of gifted kids was brought up to highlight that from past records, out of every 100 kids identified, only approximately 30 of them will not suffer undue pressure or stress due to the additional workload. So all discerning parents with the advantage of past data in hand, please make a conscious decision when deciding. GEP gives additional exposure and is definitely an advantage. However, we must be prepared to spend additional PERSONAL time and effort to provide the necessary support and share the load with our little ones, in case the kid is not in the 30% (hope we don't delegate such tasks to tuition centres :lol:; the personal touch is very important; quitting GEP halfway can be very demoralising)

ks2me:

With the above, staying in mainstream and excel has alot of more merits.

I share the same belief and my kids are fine without all the extras.

Regards

Hi atutor2001,

Sorry if I have misread you but I believe we have common intent, just that we would do it differently.

[kiasimom]

2centsworthy:

I am a newbie... thought I could share what I do know about GEP.


Is GEP good for my child? It depends on several things which only you and your child have the answer. It also depends on the school you have chosen.... which school to choose? During the briefing night... which should be in end of 1st wk or beginning of 2nd wk of Nov 09.... be there really early - make sure you ask every school which you are interested in lots and lots of questions and then put down your choices in order of priority wisely. Do not take a school that is too far away from your home. Though the program is the same in all 9 centres however the school can decide to cut down on homework or teach less or do lots more. Some GEP centres do a lot on English Grammar in P4 year... however some do what is necessary. Some centres ensure the children do almost all the work in school and they do not have a lot of homework after school. Some schools run enrichment programs or the computer skills classes after curriculum hours... some schools manage it differently. Also check on the CCA timing and activities which your child can participate in.... very importantly check on the timing of the CCA... some schools have their CCA on specific days of the week... some are on every weekday but it starts rather late e.g. 3pm or 3.30pm and ends at 5.30pm thereabout. So if you reside rather far then getting home after school would be very late in view of the traffic (car and human) from the office crowd. Ask about transport arrangements... not all schools provide transport to Woodlands, Sengkang, Toa Payoh... Nanyang school bus network seems to go everywhere... but not Rosyth, Catholic High, Henry Park, Nan Hua, St Hilda's, Tao Nan, ACS, RGPS.... so your child may have to find their own way home... else you have to go by the school to pick your child up or make alternative arrangemetns.

GEP P4 year is very smooth sailing - honeymoon year... , P5 has lots of project works, assignments, ... etc... P6 year workload is quite heavy too. I do not believe in helping my child with any of his work and so he did sleep rather late... on occasions he slept past midnight.... well he had lots of activities too.... CCAs, music, martial arts (3 Xs a week), soccer,... He has no tuition. His computer skills at P4 year was really poor but by P6 it was really much better... thanks to all the computer classes the program provided. However some of his classmates had beautiful presentation slides... even with special cards to help the child to present. The child felt awkward and told the class that his parents did it for him. Marks are given for the project works which are incorporated into the SA1 and SA2 marks for the year. I guessed the temptation to help one's child is there.... points to ponder over.... would the child really benefit from parents help... would it affect one's child's self esteem ultimately.... is marks really that important?

Another question some parents often wonder - should one's child go to GEP when selected? My 2 cents worth opinion - if he is really gifted... no special drilling, GEP preparation, tuition to help child to get into GEP... your child would benefit and enjoy the program. Otherwise, be prepared to send your child for tuition... From what I know, there are a number of GEPers being tuitioned or rather at enrichment centres and there are centres offering gifted stream classes enrichment/tuition classes, like Learning Lab, Just Education and also Success Learning Centre near Rosyth. Last year 2nd top scorer apparently had his name listed by Learning Lab... my friends saw him there and Learning Lab listed his name top of all the PSLE performers. Another friend told me that he was at Doctor Peh prior to P3 screening. I am sure there are many other centres out there offering help for gifted children .... hmmm.... Now that I have some idea of what GEP is about, perhaps I should start a tuition centre (oops enrichment centre since not many kids like to be associated with the word \"tuition\") - just joking!

Last year, I have my friends from several other GEP centres who told me that as many as 7 to 8 kids (out of 40 to 45 children) from their school did not get any DSA offers (not even wait-listed; not even one school) in each GEP centre. This year, I already know of at least 5 kids from my son's circle of friends not having any offers. So GEP does not guarantee DSA. Do not be deceived.

I was told some GEPers are tuitioned for every subjects (some subjects more than 2 times a week, some at 2 centres for each subject)... and these kids just made it to 80% (combined CA1 & SA1 results) ... and sadly some don't. If you take just SA1 results (only pen and paper marks, no project work marks) for some children, the percentage drops ... some by 3% and some barely made it to 80%. I have read some earlier comments - I agree what's the rationale of being tuitioned for these so-called gifted kids?

I too know of some GEPers who do not have an active CCA or drop all other activities just to concentrate in their studies. Is this what education is all about? Do we need or our child need to be associated with the gifted programme? Is being \"gifted\" so important?

I know of some who made it to GEP but did not take up the offer. There's this child I know personally - he has a very full life... lots of time to play, read, and doing what he likes best.... he's still very intelligent, in fact ... had much time to develop other areas and EQ has gone up.... plays golf, fencing, ballroom dancing, swims, plays very good piano.... No tuition or enriched academically. His former classmate went on to GEP is not doing well academically at all but did enjoy the gifted program despite having to travel a distance to school daily over the last 3 years and having a much heavier workload. This child did get a DSA offer but his former classmate in GEP did not get a single offer.

I remember being told when I was much younger - don't count your chickens before they are hatched. I was told that many children felt very confident after the 2nd round screening.... out of 45-55 children who went on to 2nd round, only about 10-13 children somehow got in. However in Nanyang, Pei Hwa, Rosyth... there seem to be a higher percentage getting into the GEP. In any case, many of those who said the test were easy somehow did not get in. Those who said they couldn't finish the papers or that it was kind of tough... somehow got into GEP. My concern is the devastation of the child when they hear they did not get into GEP.... what does it mean? They are not \"gifted\"..... I feel sad. To me, many children are gifted in their own way... it could be in linguistic, visual art, performing art, science.... etc.

If your child made it to GEP, go for the briefing, go there early, ask lots of questions at the booth, make arrangement to even tour the school, then make a decision then. The GEP centres will be there to hand out brochures, answer questions etc... All in all my child likes the program, all his teachers, his friends, his school and the work.

Now that I have read your post, I am aware that GEP does not guarantee DSA.
And also I am having fears now that if my son really gets into GEP, will he be able to cope?
I have also heard comments that no all GEPers do well in PSLE.

Haiz, you are right. Do not count the chicks before they are hatched.

But as a kiasu parent, we tend to worry beforehand

[kiasimom]

I heard from my son’s FT that GEP student has to excel in all three areas, English, maths and GAT, if the student just excel in 1 or 2, then this student will not qualify.

However, if the student is especially good in one area, the GEB will notify the school and will ask the school to make arrangement to stretch the student’s maximum potential in that particular area.
This student will then be placed in the high ability class of that cohort and the learning materials will be different as compared to the rest of the cohort.

Meaning to say, even if not selected for GEP, the student will still be in the high ability class of that cohort.

[rains]

watmekiasu:

This is such a typical Singapore style - and not a good one. It's similar to when you're unsuccessful in a job application, they do not even bother to contact you. A \"We regret to inform you.......\" letter or email would improve their image by miles.

Actually I prefer not receiving any form of notification in this case. It's already obvious enough if my kid comes home and says her classmates got a big yellow envelope, rather than she gives me a letter that says 'We regret to inform you ...'.

Parents,
What's GAT?

[Rosie]

[quote]Actually I prefer not receiving any form of notification in this case. It's already obvious enough if my kid comes home and says her classmates got a big yellow envelope, rather than she gives me a letter that says 'We regret to inform you ...'. [/quote]
When I went to my girl's school to receive the yellow envelope last year, there was a stack of computer-generated white forms/letters underneath the pile of envelopes. Out of curosity, i enquired and was told those letters are for students who were not selected for the programme. So, MOE does inform students who fail to make it.