Is GEP really necessary?

[verykiasu2010]

can’t run away from the normal distribution of kids’ talent or abilities or ‘giftedness’


good thing that MOE Tay Eng Soon recognised it earlier on to provide differentiated learning for the kids

must every GEP-labelled kid score right at the top ? GEP is not about scoring in PSLE exam. If it is about scoring, then just hire a personal coach to prepare and drill for PSLE will do, no need to be so troublesome

It is about enriched curriculum stretching the intellectual ability of the kids. Never about exam. It is also not about grooming an Issac Newton or Thomas Edison or Einstein or Galileo … it is about not stifling them in their intellectual curiosity based on the normal curriculum

[Sun_2010]

IMHO,

Childhood is a time of learning and exploring.
When a body is undernourished it underdevelops, same with the mind. A child needs to be challenged/stretched otherwise (s)he wilts.
The mainstream curriculum more often than not is not stretching for the the "gifted" child. Yes the child may delevop their gift later in life, and may not. I believe it is essential to utilize this window

Of course the argument is why should only the gifted be stretched ? What about the late bloomers?
There is a difference between the gifted and high ability. And i feel giftedness may not not have anything to do with success as we generally know it.

Yes there are some flaws in the current GEP. And it is this we should work on to eliminate/minimise

Are all GEPpers benefitted ? No.
Only some are greatly benefitted. Most are to quite an extent. And a significant minority are possibly harmed.
But to deprieve those that thrive on this guided,independent challenging is a shame.

I know some gifted ones who try very hard to under play their strenghts so that they can fit in. Nothing can be more devasting to a young mind than winning always. They also know that winners are sort of excluded from the group.

The main trouble with GEP is the "elitism" / "stigma"
The society ( parents, other parents, students, teachers, all) tend to idiolize it as a status symbol. And that breeds all the ills.
We use it as a bench mark - "He is a gepper, so he must be a great child". Therin lies the rub.
The expectations we place on a GEPper causes the stress not the curriculum. if the curriculum is the one causing the stress , then it is not suited for the child and the system should enable the child to move back to mainstream with mininal "stigma".

Twinnings is an excellent step forward.
More can be done and needs to be. Especially in changing the mindset.

[buds]

:goodpost: VK2010!

[Sun_2010]

verykiasu2010:

It is also not about grooming an Issac Newton or Thomas Edison or Einstein or Galileo .... it is about not stifling them in their intellectual curiosity based on the normal curriculum

vk2010
You so simply put what i was struggling to frame. :oops:

[verykiasu2010]

Sun_2010:

verykiasu2010:

It is also not about grooming an Issac Newton or Thomas Edison or Einstein or Galileo .... it is about not stifling them in their intellectual curiosity based on the normal curriculum

vk2010
You so simply put what i was struggling to frame. :oops:

oh, I was about to say what a brilliant piece you posted above ....sun_2010 throwing some sunlight to the parents on 'stigma' and perceived 'elitism'.

the system is still evolving. 20 years ago internet was not so pervasive and parents take everything that comes from MOE. these days there are high ability (last time don't have) class, inter-mingle class, E2K, pull out \"class\" for FPSP / CmPS etc etc which were previously exclusive to GEP kids

these days and age, parents are well informed and the kids' learning curve has correspondingly shortened, and MOE has to cater to wider audience with more varied needs and requirements

[2ppaamm]

Sun_2010:

verykiasu2010:

It is also not about grooming an Issac Newton or Thomas Edison or Einstein or Galileo .... it is about not stifling them in their intellectual curiosity based on the normal curriculum

vk2010
You so simply put what i was struggling to frame. :oops:

I agree!

[kaka]

verykiasu2010:

kaka:

[quote=\"verykiasu2010\"]

the system creates different avenues for different ability

the system provides choices

choices are made by parents

These choices are creating issues .... :siam:

blame the kids being too smart

blame the kids being too slow

pointing one finger forward and forgot four fingers pointing backward to the parents[/quote]Blame parents for everything, system doing fine ... MOE can shake leg :evil:

[Nebbermind]

verykiasu2010:

It is about enriched curriculum stretching the intellectual ability of the kids. Never about exam. It is also not about grooming an Issac Newton or Thomas Edison or Einstein or Galileo .... it is about not stifling them in their intellectual curiosity based on the normal curriculum

I believe not all the GEP schools share this view. Some are more relax and treat the prog as enrichment and only do the catching up for psle during the last few mths. Others, I heard, push very hard and ensure the students ace every single CA and SA during the 3 yrs.

[verykiasu2010]

Nebbermind:

verykiasu2010:

It is about enriched curriculum stretching the intellectual ability of the kids. Never about exam. It is also not about grooming an Issac Newton or Thomas Edison or Einstein or Galileo .... it is about not stifling them in their intellectual curiosity based on the normal curriculum

I believe not all the GEP schools share this view. Some are more relax and treat the prog as enrichment and only do the catching up for psle during the last few mths. Others, I heard, push very hard and ensure the students ace every single CA and SA during the 3 yrs.

possibly you are right

that is why I said some where else that unless the system is run / operated by robot with identical pre-set programs, else ........ remember the halal canteen case ? (nothing to do with GEP though)

[pinball]

Honestly, does anyone know how a GEP kid feels being in the prog, a lot of these talk are based on what the parents/adults think. I believe majority of the GEP kids enjoy the prog and nor do they feel they are elitist. A lot of assumptions are based on without understanding what the curriculum is about.