GEP Preparatory Program
-
be_contented:
:love: :goodpost:I am parent of both a GEP child and non-GEP child. I thought this forum is about whether GEP prep is needed or not. Now it turned into a war of words, so I thought I give my thoughts on this.
What is GEP prep? I think this prep can come in many forms :-
- GEP schools who set aside some P3 students & prep them with more difficult Math questions. This was confirmed to me by a friend's DD who is in a GEP school.
- Parents who send children to Math Olympiad or Kumon classes, or buy books from Popular like Brain Math, Math Olympiad, IQ Math, etc.
- Parents who prepare their children at a young age by sending to brain training classes like Heguru, i-Genius, etc
- Parents who spend money to send kids to GEP prep classes
These are all forms of preparation, aren't they? As to why GEP branch do not share their materials - it's precisely because if they do, there will be many parents who will force their children to memorise the questions in order to 'win' the system. BTW, my GEP childl could not remember a single question from the paper, and he did not finish the paper as well. My non-GEP child is thriving in the mainstream.
GEP is just one phase of a child's education. If he makes it into the program, then let him enjoy it. It gives them chance to learn higher-level (lower secondary) stuff. If for whatever reason the child does not thrive in the environment, then parents should be wise enough to make the right decision - exit program. If he thrives, then it is a good program to stretch the child. Yes, it doesn't prepare child for PSLE as well. But hey, if PSLE score is all that matters to the parents (or the child), then don't sign up for the program. There is no need to disparage the program whether your child is in or out.
Likewise, IP (Integrated Program) allows children to skip O levels. Is it fair - for late bloomers who may not have done well in PSLE and miss the IP boat? Just like is it fair - for late bloomers to miss the GEP boat at P3? Parents should also be wise enough to realise that doing the O levels has no bearing on the intelligence of the child. Maybe the O levels route gives the child more discipline and rigour to excel at the right time. In fact, parents with IP children who are struggling should consider letting the child switch to O levels, and not force him to continue in IP. No shame in that at all - it's about doing the right thing for the child to learn at the right pace.
To prep or not to prep - for GEP, and for PSLE? I think to each his own. You can prep your child whether at home, go to the so-called right schools, pay $ to go for classes, etc. If the child makes it into the GEP program or IP school, good for him. But it is only the beginning. Watch whether the environment suits the child and be wise to make the right decisions during the journey. If the child, after all the prep, does not make it, it's OK. The education journey still continues in mainstream, NA, NT, etc. Who is to say that an NT child cannot be more successful in life than a GEP child?
Finally would like to add that for people who do not like the GEP program, or the IP program for that matter, there is no need to disparage the programs as such. It is not constructive to just see the 'bad' things. Don't forget there are children who have stretched their learning because of these programs and have truly benefitted. And there are many children who are not in either of these programs who have thrived and succeeded in their education despite 'missing' the boat.
Almost Twin ??
-
be_contented:
:goodpost:I am parent of both a GEP child and non-GEP child. I thought this forum is about whether GEP prep is needed or not. Now it turned into a war of words, so I thought I give my thoughts on this.
What is GEP prep? I think this prep can come in many forms :-
- GEP schools who set aside some P3 students & prep them with more difficult Math questions. This was confirmed to me by a friend's DD who is in a GEP school.
- Parents who send children to Math Olympiad or Kumon classes, or buy books from Popular like Brain Math, Math Olympiad, IQ Math, etc.
- Parents who prepare their children at a young age by sending to brain training classes like Heguru, i-Genius, etc
- Parents who spend money to send kids to GEP prep classes
These are all forms of preparation, aren't they? As to why GEP branch do not share their materials - it's precisely because if they do, there will be many parents who will force their children to memorise the questions in order to 'win' the system. BTW, my GEP childl could not remember a single question from the paper, and he did not finish the paper as well. My non-GEP child is thriving in the mainstream.
GEP is just one phase of a child's education. If he makes it into the program, then let him enjoy it. It gives them chance to learn higher-level (lower secondary) stuff. If for whatever reason the child does not thrive in the environment, then parents should be wise enough to make the right decision - exit program. If he thrives, then it is a good program to stretch the child. Yes, it doesn't prepare child for PSLE as well. But hey, if PSLE score is all that matters to the parents (or the child), then don't sign up for the program. There is no need to disparage the program whether your child is in or out.
Likewise, IP (Integrated Program) allows children to skip O levels. Is it fair - for late bloomers who may not have done well in PSLE and miss the IP boat? Just like is it fair - for late bloomers to miss the GEP boat at P3? Parents should also be wise enough to realise that doing the O levels has no bearing on the intelligence of the child. Maybe the O levels route gives the child more discipline and rigour to excel at the right time. In fact, parents with IP children who are struggling should consider letting the child switch to O levels, and not force him to continue in IP. No shame in that at all - it's about doing the right thing for the child to learn at the right pace.
To prep or not to prep - for GEP, and for PSLE? I think to each his own. You can prep your child whether at home, go to the so-called right schools, pay $ to go for classes, etc. If the child makes it into the GEP program or IP school, good for him. But it is only the beginning. Watch whether the environment suits the child and be wise to make the right decisions during the journey. If the child, after all the prep, does not make it, it's OK. The education journey still continues in mainstream, NA, NT, etc. Who is to say that an NT child cannot be more successful in life than a GEP child?
Finally would like to add that for people who do not like the GEP program, or the IP program for that matter, there is no need to disparage the programs as such. It is not constructive to just see the 'bad' things. Don't forget there are children who have stretched their learning because of these programs and have truly benefitted. And there are many children who are not in either of these programs who have thrived and succeeded in their education despite 'missing' the boat. -
So can gep be a pull out enrichment model, just like math master class, since the purpose is to stretch the kids and that they will still have to go thru psle .like that the gep preparatory course will also disappear.
-
Otah:
It’ll be ideal. But given the number of such students in majority of the schools would be extremely small, say 1-2 or less than 10 perhaps for each level in each school, it’ll not be able to optimise resources if pull out students during curriculum time.So can gep be a pull out enrichment model, just like math master class, since the purpose is to stretch the kids and that they will still have to go thru psle .like that the gep preparatory course will also disappear.
On the other hand, if consolidate students from the various schools and do it after school hours, students may feel bored during normal class time and start disturbing other students, or “waste” time by sleeping, doodling or reading storybooks in class.
I guess there's no perfect solution.
-
arowana has been banned for name-calling and the use of profanity against other members. This thread has been locked for administration.
-
The thread has been unlocked. Posts have been embargoed or merged into the following thread:
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=49403 -
[quote]What is GEP prep? I think this prep can come in many forms :-
- GEP schools who set aside some P3 students & prep them with more difficult Math questions. This was confirmed to me by a friend's DD who is in a GEP school.
- Parents who send children to Math Olympiad or Kumon classes, or buy books from Popular like Brain Math, Math Olympiad, IQ Math, etc.[/quote]I believed the above point could be true. My DD is now in P3 in a GEP/SAP school, and she is currently in one of the top 2 class in her corhort. So far, just into their 3rd weeks of school, they are filled to the brink with homework. Just this past weekend, they have 7 sets of assigments from all subjects to do. Almost every other days they will have maths quiz from teacher. Not only that, they need to come out with their own quiz questions to share with their fellow classmates. I spoke to the Maths teacher, and she expect all her students in this class to sign up for the Maths Olympiad enrichment class conducted by the school. Her reasoning is that since they are all higher ability students, we shld stretch their limit.
Would u call this a GEP prep class? It never occur to me until I spoke to another parent whose child was in the same class last year, under the same group of teachers (now he is in P4). She said that there were many students from this class (last year) who went on to GEP and TAG class. So my guess is that this could be some kind of prep class ba...
But of course I take it with a pinch of salt. I never believe in preparing a child for GEP class. If they can make it, they will. Right now, I m more concern abt my DD not finishing her work than anything else. It's always good to expose them to more learning, but must also work within a certain expectation. I just told my DD last night, if mummy continue to work with her on writing 2 pages of Chinese journal every week for the rest of the year, she need to save more money from her pocket money for me to go and dye my white hair more often liao :evil: -
ChiefKiasu:
Wah! An early spring cleaning har?The thread has been unlocked. Posts have been embargoed or merged into the following thread:
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=49403
-
Nebbermind:
Depends on which year you are referring to
Wah! An early spring cleaning har?ChiefKiasu:
The thread has been unlocked. Posts have been embargoed or merged into the following thread:
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=49403
-
Really wonder what is GEP for if kids are prepared and over-loaded with lots of home work to prepare for GEP? :faint:
Unfortunately that is real life for kids in Singapore, many people, either parents, teachers in GEP schools etc are specifically preparing their kids for GEP.... Isn't GEP supposed to catch kids that are born with some special ability that is inborn and hence better than normal kids? If GEP kids in Singapore are primary stuffed and hence manage to get into GEP.... :scratchhead:
And I think GEP program is supposed to be interesting, stimulating, and allows kids to learn more and explore on their own?
Or I am wrong and instead the GEP program in Singapore are such that GEP kids are just thrown lots of lots of homework and those that can finish all and excel in exams are thus considered successful \"GEP\" kids? I thought \"GEP\" should focus more on innovativeness, creativity, taking self initiative to explore and learn on their own where there is no set depth and breadth in anything they want to learn? Oh well, may be I am wrong................. :scared:Rio:
I believed the above point could be true. My DD is now in P3 in a GEP/SAP school, and she is currently in one of the top 2 class in her corhort. So far, just into their 3rd weeks of school, they are filled to the brink with homework. Just this past weekend, they have 7 sets of assigments from all subjects to do. Almost every other days they will have maths quiz from teacher. Not only that, they need to come out with their own quiz questions to share with their fellow classmates. I spoke to the Maths teacher, and she expect all her students in this class to sign up for the Maths Olympiad enrichment class conducted by the school. Her reasoning is that since they are all higher ability students, we shld stretch their limit.[quote]What is GEP prep? I think this prep can come in many forms :-
- GEP schools who set aside some P3 students & prep them with more difficult Math questions. This was confirmed to me by a friend's DD who is in a GEP school.
- Parents who send children to Math Olympiad or Kumon classes, or buy books from Popular like Brain Math, Math Olympiad, IQ Math, etc.
Would u call this a GEP prep class? It never occur to me until I spoke to another parent whose child was in the same class last year, under the same group of teachers (now he is in P4). She said that there were many students from this class (last year) who went on to GEP and TAG class. So my guess is that this could be some kind of prep class ba...
But of course I take it with a pinch of salt. I never believe in preparing a child for GEP class. If they can make it, they will. Right now, I m more concern abt my DD not finishing her work than anything else. It's always good to expose them to more learning, but must also work within a certain expectation. I just told my DD last night, if mummy continue to work with her on writing 2 pages of Chinese journal every week for the rest of the year, she need to save more money from her pocket money for me to go and dye my white hair more often liao :evil:[/quote]
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login