GEP Preparatory Program

[shalomger]

ezmummy:

actually I won't say that the GEPpers are top 1% of the cohort. Son wasn't even top 10 in his school, he still got in.


I personally find that GEPpers are naturally inquisitive and driven in the search for knowledge. If your child is already such, you probably don't even have to send him/her to any courses and he/she will be selected base on his/her own merit.

OTOH, sending courses and too many enrichment classes may actually backfire, quenching his natural thirst to learn.

That's jmho.

Oh, btw, I didn't send son for prep course.

I agree with ezmummy.

If anyone asks me, I personally feel the GEP is catered to kids who are not just bright but who have a different style of learning. In the mainstream they might feel bored or unmotivated which is why some of them were in the top
and some were not in their previous schools. The way they are taught in the GEP benefits those who, as ezmummy pointed out, are naturally inquisitive and who are able to read, comprehend & interpret what they have learned. Not just about regurgitating memorized data.

They need to have self-discipline to do self-learning. They need to have that motivation and interest. It has to be an internal desire. It has to be a good fit btw them and this new way of learning, not just about (pardon the metaphor) of stuffing the shoes with tissue and hoping that helps the shoe fit better.

I used to be an advocate of why can't they make the GEP style of learning accessible to all kids? But now that we are beginning the journey and having taught primary school kids before, I am starting to understand it is a system that benefits these kids but not those kids. You can't have a cookie cutter education system. Some kids do better this way and others another way. Ultimately, they benefit if they are learning at their pace, within a style that suits them. Perhaps it is us adults who make such a big deal of everything and give birth to the elitism associated with certain streams.

We did not hothouse our son either. He never had to attend tuition for any subject. He only started to attend a Chinese Compo class to help him in that subject by exposing him to more Mandarin as no one else but me speaks Mandarin in our family. Lol. And Mandarin isn't one of the subjects they eat for the GEP qualification but is a subject we hope he will have a passion for as it is part of our cultural identity and so key in communicating in the working world.

[Kuasimi]

Why is GEP in place in the first place?

[verykiasu2010]

ezmummy:

actually I won't say that the GEPpers are top 1% of the cohort. Son wasn't even top 10 in his school, he still got in.


I personally find that GEPpers are naturally inquisitive and driven in the search for knowledge. If your child is already such, you probably don't even have to send him/her to any courses and he/she will be selected base on his/her own merit.

OTOH, sending courses and too many enrichment classes may actually backfire, quenching his natural thirst to learn.

That's jmho.

Oh, btw, I didn't send son for prep course.

the top 1% is based on the GEP screening test, NOT based on school result; and some GEP kids are definitely not exam-smart

[blessmum4]

Kuasimi:

Why is GEP in place in the first place?

I think the GEP pupils are mentally challenge to do qtn that the mainstream pupils will find difficult to handle. My DD in P4 GEP this yr and her work are def not what the mainstream kids can handle. So there is no GEP, these kids will be bored in class. She brought home only 1-2 worksheets to do a day but it's enough to challenge and stretch her brain to think deeper.

[blessmum4]

I strongly discourage sending the kids to GEP prep class. In fact, I think moe should step in to stop centre from offering them. GEP is really not for every one and if the poor kids got in because of the drill/prep, the poor child will struggle in there.


I have 2 dd and the 1st is definitely brighter than the 2nd but surprisingly, 1st didn’t get in but 2nd did. And now, I realize why 2nd can as GEP is not only for bright kids but the kids must able to gasp concept and sees things that normal bright child can’t. With the GEP teaching, she is now even able to help her P5 sisters with the maths work.

[verykiasu2010]

blessmum4:

I strongly discourage sending the kids to GEP prep class. In fact, I think moe should step in to stop centre from offering them. GEP is really not for every one and if the poor kids got in because of the drill/prep, the poor child will struggle in there.


I have 2 dd and the 1st is definitely brighter than the 2nd but surprisingly, 1st didn't get in but 2nd did. And now, I realize why 2nd can as GEP is not only for bright kids but the kids must able to gasp concept and sees things that normal bright child can't. With the GEP teaching, she is now even able to help her P5 sisters with the maths work.

you can stop a commercial organisation from selling something when there is a demand for it, unless it is illegal / immoral / against national interest & security

enlightened parents should know what not to do

[Jo Focus]

I have a pretty bad experience with Mind Stretcher. They are quite arrogant. last year I tried to sign up the Mind Stretcher High Ability Class for English since my daughter was overall top in her class in P2. Unfortunately, after the test they conducted, my daughter was not eligible to take their class. Anyway, we decided to have self study program for my daughter and she got into GEP. I guess we DO NOT need Mindstretcher to insult the ability of our child !

[Melodies]

Hi Jo Focus,


Care to share your self study program? which areas did you focus?

Thanks!

Regards,

Jo Focus:

I have a pretty bad experience with Mind Stretcher. They are quite arrogant. last year I tried to sign up the Mind Stretcher High Ability Class for English since my daughter was overall top in her class in P2. Unfortunately, after the test they conducted, my daughter was not eligible to take their class. Anyway, we decided to have self study program for my daughter and she got into GEP. I guess we DO NOT need Mindstretcher to insult the ability of our child !

[Jo Focus]

Hi Melodies,


Base on my daughter’s weaknesses, I focus on the relevant assessment books. The areas covered are vocabulary, comprehension and close passage.

You have to search your own which tailor to your kid.

Hope this helps.

[Nebbermind]

Sometimes I wonder why we make such a big hooha over these programs?


I used to feel that we shouldn't 'train' our kids that way just because of GEP.

But later, I also felt that if a kid can be trained and acquired knowledge of higher level, then is he still a misfit in GEP if he's selected?

Now, having been here for a while, I also see quite alot of parents enrichment their kids on their own, some accelerating the kids learning...maybe completing the whole yr's syllabus within a couple of months. Does it make any different if one is doing it on his own while another is paying for professional help? :?