GEP Preparatory Program
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I agree that children should not go for GEP prep classes and that the people offering such courses are doing a disservice to the parents and the children who attend such courses. It is sad to see such parents and children exploited. Yes I say exploited for profit. Regrettably parents who send their children for such classes are usually none the wiser and do not understand what the GEP program is about.
Having my children go through and still going through the GEP program from my personal POV it is to offer different sorts of challenges to children who have been identified early as academically bright. There will always be late bloomers and for them the mainstream is fine as they are bright enough to do well without really losing out as they usually will shine at the ‘O’ levels, ‘N’ levels, Poly, JC or eventually the Uni.
The issue in this forum is whether the GEP classes are useful or whether it may actually mislead the parents and children as to their natural ability. Being in the GEP gives additional opportunities that mái streamers do not get. The many projects done are completely irrelevant to the PSLE yet much time and effort is required. This same time is used by mainstreamers to study, reinforce and strengthen their weak areas.
So it makes sense that if a child shows academic ability early such a child should not be made to study at the pace of the average or late bloomer and correspondingly the average or late bloomers should not be forced artificially to study at the pace of the child who shows early academic ability.
The GEP is not a magic bullet to solve the difficulties of dealing with the pressures and expectations of the PSLE. It is not designed for that and parents should be given enough information and should not be tempted by "all-knowing" enrichment and tuition centers to simply hope that their child if an average or late bloomer can and will exploit the benefits of the GEP if they attend such prep classes. Therein lies the exploitation of ignorant but well-meaning and anxious parents. Each parent must make the effort to know their child and then to understand if the GEP fits the personality and needs of the child. Such parents should not play "tikam" with their child’s educational development. -
The way I see it, GEP is the 'enrichment' class.
PSLE is the goal and it make sense to stay tuned to mainstream syllabus even if kids are in GEP.
One of the ways to do this is through mainstream tuition. Not that they need tuition to help in GEP syllabus but more so to stay in tune with PSLE format & syllabus.
Instead of spending 30 hours per week studying mainstream syllabus (5 days x 6 hours daily) which most likely will not stretched these kids, gep kids can replicate their study of mainstream/psle syllabus over 6 to 8 hours (assuming 2 hours weekly tuition for 3 to 4 mainstream subjects).
Hence, the weekly 30 hours of gep syllabus during school hour is in fact extended hours 'enrichment' class to keep them engaged and challenged them so they are stretching themselves more.
They don't need to spend so much time studying mainstream syllabus anyway so weekly 6 to 8 hours to stay tune is sufficient. -
Just relax:
:goodpost: :goodpost: :goodpost:I agree that children should not go for GEP prep classes and that the people offering such courses are doing a disservice to the parents and the children who attend such courses. It is sad to see such parents and children exploited. Yes I say exploited for profit. Regrettably parents who send their children for such classes are usually none the wiser and do not understand what the GEP program is about.
Having my children go through and still going through the GEP program from my personal POV it is to offer different sorts of challenges to children who have been identified early as academically bright. There will always be late bloomers and for them the mainstream is fine as they are bright enough to do well without really losing out as they usually will shine at the 'O' levels, 'N' levels, Poly, JC or eventually the Uni.
The issue in this forum is whether the GEP classes are useful or whether it may actually mislead the parents and children as to their natural ability. Being in the GEP gives additional opportunities that mái streamers do not get. The many projects done are completely irrelevant to the PSLE yet much time and effort is required. This same time is used by mainstreamers to study, reinforce and strengthen their weak areas.
So it makes sense that if a child shows academic ability early such a child should not be made to study at the pace of the average or late bloomer and correspondingly the average or late bloomers should not be forced artificially to study at the pace of the child who shows early academic ability.
The GEP is not a magic bullet to solve the difficulties of dealing with the pressures and expectations of the PSLE. It is not designed for that and parents should be given enough information and should not be tempted by \"all-knowing\" enrichment and tuition centers to simply hope that their child if an average or late bloomer can and will exploit the benefits of the GEP if they attend such prep classes. Therein lies the exploitation of ignorant but well-meaning and anxious parents. Each parent must make the effort to know their child and then to understand if the GEP fits the personality and needs of the child. Such parents should not play \"tikam\" with their child's educational development. -
sleepy:
The way I see it, GEP is the 'enrichment' class.
PSLE is the goal and it make sense to stay tuned to mainstream syllabus even if kids are in GEP.
One of the ways to do this is through mainstream tuition. Not that they need tuition to help in GEP syllabus but more so to stay in tune with PSLE format & syllabus.
Instead of spending 30 hours per week studying mainstream syllabus (5 days x 6 hours daily) which most likely will not stretched these kids, gep kids can replicate their study of mainstream/psle syllabus over 6 to 8 hours (assuming 2 hours weekly tuition for 3 to 4 mainstream subjects).
Hence, the weekly 30 hours of gep syllabus during school hour is in fact extended hours 'enrichment' class to keep them engaged and challenged them so they are stretching themselves more.
They don't need to spend so much time studying mainstream syllabus anyway so weekly 6 to 8 hours to stay tune is sufficient.
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KSmom8:
GEP teachers told me that they have to treat it as their works and mark accordingly... They can't do anything.Thank you for substantiating my point. GEP is only the start of the education journey...it's only primary school! There are opportunities for all, not just the top 1% or top 20%, but even the bottom 10%, to do well in their studies and in life. Yes, the correct attitude and other positive attributes will get a person far in life. So why do parents feel this need to send their kids for GEP prep classes? I mentioned the few who struggle in GEP as an example and to show a different perspective. I do believe that if these kids had stayed in mainstream, they would be happier, have higher self esteem, and perhaps a higher t-score in PSLE and get into their secondary school of choice.
I suppose if there's a willing buyer, there's always a willing seller. I suppose that one can pay another to do a child's project. But I do believe that this is very rare, if it has happened at all. Surely, the teachers, including the many GEP teachers you have spoken to, are alert enough to distinguish the difference in standard of work for projects and those done in class? Don't these teachers have a duty to report and investigate? Why have we not heard news of this?
I think that as parents and teachers, including those in academics, we should give credit where it is due. The kids have worked hard for their projects....all the research...brainstorming...doing many drafts under their teacher's guidance before final submission. Question them and you'll find that they can substantiate their source of information and discuss points with you. The teachers are not stupid nor sleeping on job, surely they can tell and check if the project is the child's work???
For your information: I don't think the \"rich one\" paid for someone to do child's project, otherwise, would have a better grade for project work.
I still stand by what I said, i know of many GEP kids who don't have tuition / enrichment before primary 4. However, I do know of some who have tuition / enrichment after they join GEP. Why? Parents' / kids' kiasuism, schoolteachers' incompetences / ineffectiveness, etc. I suppose each would have their own reason.
And ahem, where did I say that ONLY GE kids are bright? Have been reading and reading and cannot find... :shock:
The focus of GEP is not the PSLE. GE kids are not better prepared nor exposed for PSLE compared to other children. A lot of time is spent stretching them in other aspects. What does analysing stories, writing stories and poems, discussions on various social issues, on mathematical theorems, on scientific theories, etc, have to do with PSLE? A fair amount of what is done in GEP is not tested in PSLE.
Anyway, they will do well in the project components.
You missed the point. I did not substantiate your point.
In fact, during the time when I was schooling, there are opportunities for all because there were not have all kinds of funny schemes like GEP/DSA/IP/etc, not just the top 1% or top 20%, but even the bottom 10%, to do well in their studies and in life!! BUT not for now anymore with all these funny schemes now!!!
That's why everyone has gone crazy to pump their kids such that their kids can make it for GEP program and enjoy all the BENEFITS. IT is no longer level playing field.
In fact, majority kids are being pumped one way or another to reach the top 1% la. Hence, I neither encourage nor discourage anyone to enrich/prep their kids since the system is set up in this way to benefit those kids. So, if their kids can make it? why not? Afterall, schools do make a difference! You got into good schools, you are better prepared for exams and exposed to many attractive programs!
I won't even say all of them are academically gifted since only English and Maths are tested for selection. Many researches already proved that IQ tests are not a good guide anyway. The ability/intellectual level of a kids can't be just determined by these English and Maths!!! You didn't say only GEP kids are bright, I was just trying to tell you that not just gep kids are bright, many mainstreams' kids are bright too. I knew that many of GEP kids didn't do well because their parents can't help them and hence they suffered in GEP program though they were selected.
It is not up to you to believe or not. what I said is the fact: some \"rich one\" paid for someone to do child's project, hence, they have a better grade for project work. Those in rich GEP schools knew this very well!!
I have to stress one more time that, those who didn't go for tuition/enrichment/etc, they are prep by their own parents at home one way and another since parents can find all sort of materials for their kids.
your quote\"A lot of time is spent stretching them in other aspects. What does analysing stories, writing stories and poems, discussions on various social issues, on mathematical theorems, on scientific theories, etc, have to do with PSLE?\" -- exactly all these are done in GEP prepared them better for PSLE. Do you know that PSLE have many questions that required you to have all these training/exposure/exercises to do well?
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Just relax:
What is natural ability? Sadly, up to now, there is no a foolproof scheme to identify natural ability? certainly not by only English and Maths and high ability papers. If a kid can be trained/hot-housed to be selected, what make you think they don't have natural ability?I agree that children should not go for GEP prep classes and that the people offering such courses are doing a disservice to the parents and the children who attend such courses. It is sad to see such parents and children exploited. Yes I say exploited for profit. Regrettably parents who send their children for such classes are usually none the wiser and do not understand what the GEP program is about.
Having my children go through and still going through the GEP program from my personal POV it is to offer different sorts of challenges to children who have been identified early as academically bright. There will always be late bloomers and for them the mainstream is fine as they are bright enough to do well without really losing out as they usually will shine at the 'O' levels, 'N' levels, Poly, JC or eventually the Uni.
The issue in this forum is whether the GEP classes are useful or whether it may actually mislead the parents and children as to their natural ability. Being in the GEP gives additional opportunities that mái streamers do not get. The many projects done are completely irrelevant to the PSLE yet much time and effort is required. This same time is used by mainstreamers to study, reinforce and strengthen their weak areas.
So it makes sense that if a child shows academic ability early such a child should not be made to study at the pace of the average or late bloomer and correspondingly the average or late bloomers should not be forced artificially to study at the pace of the child who shows early academic ability.
The GEP is not a magic bullet to solve the difficulties of dealing with the pressures and expectations of the PSLE. It is not designed for that and parents should be given enough information and should not be tempted by \"all-knowing\" enrichment and tuition centers to simply hope that their child if an average or late bloomer can and will exploit the benefits of the GEP if they attend such prep classes. Therein lies the exploitation of ignorant but well-meaning and anxious parents. Each parent must make the effort to know their child and then to understand if the GEP fits the personality and needs of the child. Such parents should not play \"tikam\" with their child's educational development.
If really does not want many parents to exploit the system, then scrape those schemes to drive well-meaning and anxious parents nuts. -
To prep or not to prep .... let each parents decide. The important thing is let the child enjoy the learning PROCESS.
With or without GEP, will not guarantee success in life.
If we want success in our children's life ... play our part as parents to coach them and let God takes over.
Noble Group (SGX listed company) once said in an interview that >50% of deals are \"incidental\" deals (not pre-planned). It is about being at the right place at the right time and all conditions were right and the deal is closed.
It can be best said by this quote from an ancient book:
\"I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but TIME and CHANCE happeneth to them all.\" -
Trapwithin:
We can preach all we want but if these parents already set their minds on getting their children into GEP, all this preaching matters little.To prep or not to prep .... let each parents decide. The important thing is let the child enjoy the learning PROCESS.
With or without GEP, will not guarantee success in life.
If we want success in our children's life ... play our part as parents to coach them and let God takes over.
Noble Group (SGX listed company) once said in an interview that >50% of deals are \"incidental\" deals (not pre-planned). It is about being at the right place at the right time and all conditions were right and the deal is closed.
It can be best said by this quote from an ancient book:
\"I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but TIME and CHANCE happeneth to them all.\"
Same same if people donch believe in this ancient book, no one will care about the quotation.
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What I like to know is:
How many actual students do parents here know, who got into the GEP programme but choose to opt out??
I only heard of one case so far, and the child’s parents are both teachers.
My gal started P4 GEP prog this year- we did not prepare her and she did not attend any GEP prep prog/ enrichment classes (apart from help in HCL).
(I am a FTWM too, so nope, do not qualify all points shared by arowana)
I come to understand from the GEP teachers in her school- that the GEP prog teaches thinking processes; stimulate and stretches the child; helps build emotional maturity of such kids. In fact, my gal’s GEP head said to us parents- "if you want your child to be drilled and fully prepared for PSLE- do NOT go into the GEP prog. Choose the GEP prog for a longer term gain for the child- which is to teach the child thinking processes and concepts that will come in handy beyond pri sch- i.e. into sec sch and beyond…"
I remain concerned if GEP is the right route for my child- I believe in drilling and preparing well for PSLE- cos if the child does not do well, it affects the type of sec sch she can go to…I am not counting on getting in via DSA route, although GEP kids can be offered this route if they pass all the interivews/ tests etc…
What do parents here think? Pls share. Thank you. -
Fairyprincess:
In my ds's school, 20%-25% opted out. They had various reasons for doing so: they love the school so did not want to transfer out, they didn't feel they can cope with the programme (no tuition/enrichment), and also some parents felt that GEP will disadvantage the kids at PSLEWhat I like to know is:
How many actual students do parents here know, who got into the GEP programme but choose to opt out??
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