GEP 2012 - Screening & Selection

[Fresco]

I think the word ‘gifted’ is not an appropriate word to use for this so-called GEP. This word has definitely been blown out of proportions by most people since this programme has been implemented. Throughout the years it has added on unnecessary stress and anxieties to parents and students alike. If the child has much higher abilities in learning compared to the regular students, then he/she will make the cut for the programme and should be able to cope given his/her capabilities. MOE will not put them through what they cannot attain or endure. If that is so, then what’s the purpose of the GEP programme. Those who struggle are the ones who do not really have the cut for GEP but somehow get selected due to various reasons like going for GEP prep classes whereby you are given a headstart to advance learning or the child has done unexpectedly well for the selection test by mere guess works.


Anyway only 500 children will be selected, so the remaining 2500 children or so may be spared the ‘agony’ and ‘uncertainties’ of going through the GEP, and taking the route less travelled in the course of their education.

If your child has the cut for the GEP, by all means accept it as he /she will be a much happier child because they are created uniquely with special talents and will certainly rise up to the challenges of the GEP. It is simply because they have the capacity for greater things in life.

[monmon31]

Fresco:

I think the word 'gifted' is not an appropriate word to use for this so-called GEP. This word has definitely been blown out of proportions by most people since this programme has been implemented. Throughout the years it has added on unnecessary stress and anxieties to parents and students alike. If the child has much higher abilities in learning compared to the regular students, then he/she will make the cut for the programme and should be able to cope given his/her capabilities. MOE will not put them through what they cannot attain or endure. If that is so, then what's the purpose of the GEP programme. Those who struggle are the ones who do not really have the cut for GEP but somehow get selected due to various reasons like going for GEP prep classes whereby you are given a headstart to advance learning or the child has done unexpectedly well for the selection test by mere guess works.


Anyway only 500 children will be selected, so the remaining 2500 children or so may be spared the 'agony' and 'uncertainties' of going through the GEP, and taking the route less travelled in the course of their education.

If your child had the cut for the GEP, by all means accept it as he /she will be a much happier child because they are created uniquely with special talents and will certainly rise up to the challenges of the GEP. It is simply because they have the capacity for greater things in life.

3500 not 2500

4000 selected in the first round

[Fresco]

2500 or 3500, it doesn't matter, they are selecting 500 For GEP, that doesn't change, does it? Good, another 1000 children spared from the uncertainties of the change in their learning journey especially when they are not prepared for it.

[Melodies]

Contrary to most said in red below, the one with most pre n well-prepared n parental helps is the one who do very well in GEP. If u r very all-rounded n pre since very young, u r basically always in the range of 80-93% It has to be very all-rounded to do well in this gep program. Basically, 4 subjects r average of maths, eng,Chinese n science, how not to do well in each of them to get good overall le? The one who didn't pre n not all rounded one but got in is always struggle to cope, unless the parents can help. This group of geppers can score>260!!!

FQW:

pecalis:

Your story is similar to what I heard from friends. They didn't prep their kids, kids got into GEP by own merits, yet they struggle to cope with the workload [almost endless project after project + exams].

I simply wish to verify if this comment is accurate - \"if you prep your kids, they will struggle\" which seems to apply the opposite is true as well. A bit like the bogeyman. That somewhat contradicted what pple told me in private [and now by you as well].

Anyway I personally doubt the effectiveness of GEP prep classes - perhaps only useful as a placebo effect.

[jtoh]

Puzz...zzle:

I agreed, Kids that didn't go thru Prep Class may struggle to cope as they didn't go thru any trainning or exposure likes those kids in the GEP prep. There will be a gap between these 2 groups of kids. This is what I am worried if my DD pass and selected as she didn't have any Prep / trainning. It will be a hard time at start. But I believe they will catch up very fast and in track . Frankly till now ,I m still not sure which is the right choice if DD selected. Stay in mainstream where she will has easier life & childhood OR in GEP where she needs to handle tons of works and stress at this age. :slapshead:

Misconception here. The so-called GEP prep classes \"prepare\" their kids to take the GEP screening and selection tests. They do NOT prepare them for the GEP syllabus. As to how effective these GEP prep classes are in getting the kids into GEP, that's questionable. If anything, I think it buys into the kiasu mentality of parents and the effects are more placebo than concrete. Their objective is to have the parent pay lots of money so the kid stands a better chance at getting into GEP. And once you get in, you're on your own. Of course, the more enterprising will have GEP tuition classes, where these kids can have specialised tuition on top of their already busy schedules just so they can manage the challenging GEP syllabus. Time and money well-spent? How about rest time for the kids?

I remember the first thing the HOD of GEP told the parents on our first meeting with him when our kids first entered GEP. Do NOT send your child for tuition. They will not need it. And he was correct. There was no need for tuition nor did I help my dd in her homework or projects. We did give her lots of emotional support and made sure she had enough rest and play time.

[monmon31]

jtoh:

Puzz...zzle:

I agreed, Kids that didn't go thru Prep Class may struggle to cope as they didn't go thru any trainning or exposure likes those kids in the GEP prep. There will be a gap between these 2 groups of kids. This is what I am worried if my DD pass and selected as she didn't have any Prep / trainning. It will be a hard time at start. But I believe they will catch up very fast and in track . Frankly till now ,I m still not sure which is the right choice if DD selected. Stay in mainstream where she will has easier life & childhood OR in GEP where she needs to handle tons of works and stress at this age. :slapshead:

Misconception here. The so-called GEP prep classes \"prepare\" their kids to take the GEP screening and selection tests. They do NOT prepare them for the GEP syllabus. As to how effective these GEP prep classes are in getting the kids into GEP, that's questionable. If anything, I think it buys into the kiasu mentality of parents and the effects are more placebo than concrete. Their objective is to have the parent pay lots of money so the kid stands a better chance at getting into GEP. And once you get in, you're on your own. Of course, the more enterprising will have GEP tuition classes, where these kids can have specialised tuition on top of their already busy schedules just so they can manage the challenging GEP syllabus. Time and money well-spent? How about rest time for the kids?

I remember the first thing the HOD of GEP told the parents on our first meeting with him when our kids first entered GEP. Do NOT send your child for tuition. They will not need it. And he was correct. There was no need for tuition nor did I help my dd in her homework or projects. We did give her lots of emotional support and made sure she had enough rest and play time.

may I know prior to getting into GEP, did you prep your kids?

Did they really have time to do all the work and have time to rest and play, if you have included tuition ( assuming the few additional hours)? Just hypothetical question.

[jtoh]

monmon31:

may I know prior to getting into GEP, did you prep your kids?

Did they really have time to do all the work and have time to rest and play, if you have included tuition ( assuming the few additional hours)? Just hypothetical question.

No GEP prep at all. In fact, I did not even know such prep classes were available until several years later. I didn't care if my dd got into GEP or not. She just took the test with her friends and received the fat envelope one day.

The hours at GEP are much longer than mainstream. I remember in P4 the kids had to stay back several days a week for Chinese, computer and research training, plus CCA. And many of these kids also take music and dance lessons privately, which I would be loathe to give up just for studies. Without tuition, the workload is manageable. With tuition, I can imagine the days being packed until 6pm minimum (or even 8pm), before homework. So minimum play time, I suppose?

[Lock]

I hv 2 classic examples. My DS (p3) can understand P5 Maths concept AFTER I explained to him, whereas my niece when at P3 could figure out the solution to P5 Maths questions ON HER OWN. No prize for guessing who is the gifted one here.

DS has high ability n went through Rd 1 GEP, not sure if will get thru Rd 2. Niece got into GEP program. She does not hv tuition, not even CL. Everything learn from tr, books n on her own.

My point is that sometimes parents mistake high ability as gifted. When I compare my DS n my niece, it’s v clear that my boy just has high ability n if got selected into GEP will definitely struggle with or w/o prep.

IMO, prep can only bring the kid to a distance but can’t help him all the way. In the end, it has to be the inherent ability that will see the kid through.

[Nebbermind]

Actually for GEP, I feel the main gist is that if the child needs to be very disciplined and have a higher level of maturity, he will more likely to do better. AT P4, most don’t possess this, especially for the boys. They hate sitting down and doing serious writing which is required for SS and some other projects. They hate filing their notes/worksheets!

They rather do something which they can see an end to…like solving math problems, and NOT doing draft after draft after draft of some proj.

That’s why many of them only started to enjoy at the latter part of P5 when most heavy proj would have come to an end. Also, by then they have gained maturity thru the earlier part of the training.

Juz my 2c.

[Melodies]

One of friend’s ds was struggling n just scored 70- 75% for his p4-p5 sa1 gep n he is poor in Chinese. I advised the mother to sign his up for chinese tuition to improve the overall mark. After 1yr of 2 tuition in Chinese, he scored bat 83% in p6 sa1 n got co offer already.