GEP 2012 - Screening & Selection

[Fairyprincess]

Hi parents,


I learnt something new today, in my quest to find out more about GEP…

Being an academic all rounder who is good in all subjects and getting into GEP are entirely different…

GEP tests only Eng; Maths & general ability, but the child may excel in Chinese/ Mother tongue and Sci, or maybe all subjects. Thus, the former may be a GEP child, while the latter may be an academic high achieving child…

In my gal’s P3 class, 3 gals got into GEP, including her, and all 3 are "top 5" in results in class, of the remaining 2 top 5 students, 1 is not in GEP, not sure about the other.

That is why we cannot expect PSLE top scorers to make up of GEP kids only…kids are wired differently…

Share if you have any views!!

Ranjan- congrats on your child’s success!!

[phtthp]

Fairyprincess,


P3 NYPS - how many top classes are there ?
at end of P2 - do they get streamed into a few top P3 classes ?

[porcupine12trade]

If your child is already top in school, excel in all 4 subjs, will you still let your child go Gep? Or stay mainstream

[25hr mama]

porcupine12trade:

If your child is already top in school, excel in all 4 subjs, will you still let your child go Gep? Or stay mainstream

Then u have to ask yourself, can you (both parents & child) accept or are prepared to accept the fact that your dc may not achieve what he or she has been achieving for the past 3 years.

When come to GEP, they need to put in more effort, as all the subjects r pitched at a higher level, in order to tap to their so called \"fullest potential\". Even if they put in more effort, they may not top their the class or score 90+ marks for all papers or all subjects anymore, & not forgetting they will be competing with so many smart kids out there.

Some parents set very high expectation of their kids, some kids are perfectionist themselves and easily feel dejected when unable to meet parents' and own expectations.

Hence, both parents & kids have to learn to manage their expectations more realistically. I dun think it is wise to expect them to excel in every paper, in all subjects. A little setback is necessary & good for the kids sometimes.

Juz my 2 cents worth

[porcupine12trade]

25hr mama:

porcupine12trade:

If your child is already top in school, excel in all 4 subjs, will you still let your child go Gep? Or stay mainstream

Then u have to ask yourself, can you (both parents & child) accept or are prepared to accept the fact that your dc may not achieve what he or she has been achieving for the past 3 years.

When come to GEP, they need to put in more effort, as all the subjects r pitched at a higher level, in order to tap to their so called \"fullest potential\". Even if they put in more effort, they may not top their the class or score 90+ marks for all papers or all subjects anymore, & not forgetting they will be competing with so many smart kids out there.

Some parents set very high expectation of their kids, some kids are perfectionist themselves and easily feel dejected when unable to meet parents' and own expectations.

Hence, both parents & kids have to learn to manage their expectations more realistically. I dun think it is wise to expect them to excel in every paper, in all subjects. A little setback is necessary & good for the kids sometimes.

Juz my 2 cents worth

Thanks for ur reply..

we are ok our child won't be top and just avg in gep, because we understand there are many smart kids around. but what is the purpose of gep, if staying in mainstream can score well for PSLE and go to sec school of choice, then what is the objective of going gep? If staying in mainstream can breeze thru ( so less stress?) till psle, what is the motivation of opting in gep, which seems like a more challenging and tougher route. I really hope to understand the motivation of opting in gep. Thank you.

[25hr mama]

Hi porcupine12trade,


U may like to go to these links, I hv been following this blog, hope u enjoy too.

http://hedgehogcomms.blogspot.sg/2008/09/day-in-life-of-gep-kid.html

http://hedgehogcomms.blogspot.sg/2008/08/one-parents-experience-with-gifted.html

http://hedgehogcomms.blogspot.sg/2012/04/why-villainising-gep-does-no-one-any.html

[Lock]

The purpose of GEP is in the curriculum. That’s my view. I don’t choose GEP in hope that my kid will score in PSLE or get into prestigious Sch. If that’s my purpose, DS will be better off in Rulang where they prepare the kids very well for PSLE.


I am of the opinion that since DS has been selected for GEP, that will mean he needs a different curriculum to expand his learning repertoire. Currently, in mainstream, kids are very drilled in the subjects to do well, there’s v little ‘real’ learning taking place in the classroom. I hope I am not wrong to think that GEP curriculum allows the kids to explore and dig deeper into the subjects and that the learning journey is more enriched.

[prischan]

Hi all,


Glad to find this group. My ds is also selected for GEP. Will be attending the briefing on Sat.

[FireflyMom]

Main reason I've decided to let my girl join the GEP is because she said she was so bored in class when the teachers were teaching that she had to fight with 周公 all the time.


Guess from next year onwards, I'll just be asking her, 'what is the average in class?'. So long as she's not too far below it, I'm contented. Just hope she won't fail lah.. As for PSLE.... I fight next year's battle first, ok? :nunchuk:

[prischan]

Let's hope the kids will enjoy this journey