Is GEP really necessary?

[2ppaamm]

There’s always a need for some kind of intervention for the gifted kids. But as it is, they are not the ones benefiting. I think people all know that, it is about what kind of preparation, what kind of background the family comes from. I think whether they wear white or blue, they know that too. Perhaps it is indeed time to revamp the system, so that resources are channeled to the right folks. For the high ability ones, they will excel in any classroom.

[Nebbermind]

I still believe that those who were selected mainly thru hothousing is of a very small %, probably smaller than those who are gifted and actually slipped thru.

[2ppaamm]

Most people are gifted in limited areas. hence, by changing the criteria that a kid must excel in both math and english, most truely gifted kids are already sifted out. this policy obviously suits the administrators and educators who always find it easier to teach a homogenous class. unfortunately it also means those with the highest potential to contribute with ground breaking innovations would not be identified nor nurtured. it is not a gifted program anymore. and i hv not factored in the hothousing part.

[Nebbermind]

well, on the brighter side, the prog is only for 3 yrs in pr school. So all is not lost for those who missed the boat earlier on coz it’s another game when in sec school…ok, the geppers do bring along with them some advantage but I feel that this can be easily lost if it’s not built on during the 1st 2 yrs in sec school.

[phtthp]

so after so many batches of GEP kids had graduated, did MOE keep track how successful they are now that they’ve grown up ?


if some not successful inspite of going thru GEP programme, then conclusion is:

GEP is NOT necessary!

bec i noticed that this GEP thing had created a lot of jealousy amongst parents. So might as well just let every child go mainstream. Those who’re better academically - let them enrol in this what is called "twinning" programme in some schools.

[Nebbermind]

phtthp:

so after so many batches of GEP kids had graduated, did MOE keep track how successful they are now that they've grown up ?

is it even necessary, ie, the tracking of these students?

I always feel that the GEP is like MOE giving these bunch of kids a short cut in what is a very long journey. If u donch take advantage of it and maintain the lead, u will drop back to the main crowd. Alot more still need to be done for future success (and we can still debate on the meaning of success....)

[KSP]

I feel GEP is necessary when the children are young to let them learn together as these are more advanced kids.


I remember watching an interview with a JC principal who said the top students can come from mainstream, IP or GEP. So it doesn’t guarentee success as their thinking will change over the years as they get older.

When they join the workforce it will be a totally different ball game.

[Zann]

Nebbermind:

well, on the brighter side, the prog is only for 3 yrs in pr school. So all is not lost for those who missed the boat earlier on coz it's another game when in sec school...ok, the geppers do bring along with them some advantage but I feel that this can be easily lost if it's not built on during the 1st 2 yrs in sec school.

Those who might have missed the boat at P3 could be picked up today again thru the DSA GAT test again. By then testing of English is not necessary since PSLE T-score include English result is also taken into consideration.

[Nebbermind]

phtthp:

bec i noticed that this GEP thing had created a lot of jealousy amongst parents.

Perhaps only affect those mommies who b!tch around at the school tuckshop

we donch hang around these areas...never got to feel the intensity of the jealousy

[concern2]

How come since 1984, there hasn't been any research done on the success of GEP? Or is there already? Aren't we all talking about what we think by what we see? How about those that we have not encountered or heard about? If GEP students have been specially selected, isn't there any data or record such as:


1) What each individual has been selected based on, their starting strengths n weaknesses etc.
2) By the end of the GEP years, how have their strengths soared and how have their weaknesses been strengthen/ overcome?
3) The areas of expertise that GEP students end up in - do they correspond to what they have been 'identified' for?
4) How each GEP student fair in PSLE and which secondary school they end up going?
5) How do they continue to fair beyond GEP - how GEP have either become a stepping/drowning stone?

What are the figures like? Is there any pattern to it all?

Surely if MOE wants to relook into GEP, all these and other relevant data needs to be collected and CAN be collected? Or has there already - on a few pre-selected ones?
If there is no record of this group of specially selected students, after so many years that GEP has been in place, how can we then assess its success/ failure? If no record / tracking has been intended in the first place, then what purpose does it really serve? Or, has there been any independent researches done on GEP itself?

If the assumption is that by the age of 10, ANY CHILD who is able to attain high scores in the set GEP tests, particularly areas of English N Maths, is qualified to be termed 'GIFTED', then, is this still applicable TODAY, when such scores can be attained through prior training and practice? AND if this is possible, then, does this mean that we have INCREASING GIFTED CHILDREN that the GEP system is becoming invalid today? That the GEP system should be reassessed, with different sets of criteria? And perhaps, even, giving it an overhaul?