2009 GEP Screening And Selection

[puppylove]

So if my child does not bring home any yellow envelope that means did not get it lah ? No news means bad news ?

[kiasimom]

Kiasu101:

Come to think of it...are we really anxious because of the good that GEP can do to our kids or because of our pride? For them to pass the first screening test was already a great achievement as that made them top 8% of the cohort. I have a friend whose kid is in GEP and who is depressed because of the endless homework and projects he has.

Hi. For me it is not my pride. It is more for my son's portfolio. He wants to get in GEP so that he can get into a good secondary school.

[kiasimom]

tony:

Is the homework level very high? Roughly how many hours do they need a day? How does it compare with the homework load for non-GEP kids? If it's very high, I don't think DS will want to go even if (big IF lah) offered because all he wants to do everyday is play and read.

For that, vlim and bing_he can best answer you as their kids are GEPers

[kiasimom]

Kiasu101:

Haha...it depends on how each child copes. It's really challenging to be a parent in Singapore!

You bet

[kiasimom]

puppylove:

So if my child does not bring home any yellow envelope that means did not get it lah ? No news means bad news ?

Hi puppylove,
Your child will tell you if he/she is successful cos I think he/she will be informed by the teacher.

[ChiefKiasu]

watmekiasu:

ChiefKiasu:

2010s:
Ma gives son a big bright yellow envelope.
Son: \"What's this?\"
Ma: \"Shut up and just bring it to school.\"

Hahaha!

If mommy says you go to GEP, then you will go to GEP. Who is MOE to tell me what to do with my child! Now, take this yellow envelope and tell your teacher you are going to GEP! :x

watmekiasu, no, that was not my intended message. My point is simply that if we continue to glorify the so-called GEP-status, there will come a point that it becomes degrading not to receive a yellow envelope which signifies that one is \"not gifted\". I'm rather saddened by all the postings to this thread of parents holding their breath waiting for MOE to declare their children as \"gifted\". It only shows how warped the programme has become in our parents' minds... at best, people see it as a means to get into good secondary schools, and at worst, people see it as an elite status.

All children are gifted in their own ways. We don't need to tell our children that they are not gifted in the way that our education system wants them to be.

[Kiasu101]

Well said!

[kiasimom]

[quote]I'm rather saddened by all the postings to this thread of parents holding their breath waiting for MOE to declare their children as \"gifted\". It only shows how warped the programme has become in our parents' minds... at best, people see it as a means to get into good secondary schools, and at worst, people see it as an elite status.


All children are gifted in their own ways. We don't need to tell our children that they are not gifted in the way that our education system wants them to be.[/quote]Hi Chief,

I agree with you that our kid is gifted in their own way. Getting into GEP is a good thing if the kid is under-stretched in school. As parents, we want the best for our kids. So as long as the mindset for GEP is positive, it should be a good thing for the kid.
Please don't be sad seeing us waiting in anticipation. It shows how much we care and love our kids. I believe many parents are, like me waiting with a positive mindset about GEP.
As mentioned in our thread, it will be good if the kid gets in, but if no, what will be will be. We will still love our kid to every bit irregardless if he/she gets into GEP.
Like you said before, Kid A might be gifted in Science, Arts, Music but maybe not in Maths and English and I agree with you that doesn't mean they are not gifted.
As the chinese saying goes: 天生我才必有用

[vlim]

my son this yr in p4 gep. Everyday he will have maths worksheet to do at home. Social Studies first project, family tree, is a challenging one for the kid as well as for anxious mum and dad. It was done in the first term whereby most kid and MOMs are still trying to adapt to the ge program so kind of 'siong'. My husband and I help him in the layout part while he did all the write-out and content himself.. surprisingly he got pretty good marks for it. HCL are more difficult compare to mainstream hcl. English level is ,I think is like mainstream p5 to p6 standard or not higher. this yr Science sa2 is hard and this is the first science paper that my son said very harrrrd .. Any way heard that p4 gep is 'honeymoon' and p5 gep is the busiest one as there are more projects going on and so forth.... :lol:

[kiasimom]

[quote] My husband and I help him in the layout part while he did all the write-out and content himself [/quote]
养儿一百岁，长忧九十九. As parents, we can only help them open the door, as for the rest, it is really up to their ability.