Intellect or Age Peer?

[Nebbermind]

concern2:

:scratchhead: So it is still about grades?

Surely diff GEP parents will have diff wishlist. But so far none has shared here in this thread.

One thing I'm still not sure is what is tested in the GEP selection. Surely it is not just another IQ test.

I've seen kids with consistently excellent results from from P1~P3 not even making it to the selection when maybe 40~50 qualified, and some multi-talented (academic, performing arts, leadership) missing out on the final selection whe 1-~20 were selected.

I've met some of these kids. Some are really all-rounders....u can put them in any school and they will still excel. There are some who looks like ADD....others in a world of their own...some excellent in science but sux in math or vice versa. They r not an homogenous group of kids.

So my point is, if u r not selected, it does not limit your success academically. Similarly, if u r selected, u r not guaranteed academic success....u r still very much in control of your life, ie, it's still up to u whether u want to succeed or not.

[Chenonceau]

2ppaamm:

I was lured to put my son into GEP solely because of that word \"individual\", and I thought he'll be given a chance to inquire, to ask and to grow. I thought people will understand giftedness and differences. I was wrong.

2ppaamm's son went to GEP. He is now in uni at 15.

[kiddo]

Nebbermind:

concern2:

:scratchhead: So it is still about grades?

Surely diff GEP parents will have diff wishlist. But so far none has shared here in this thread.

One thing I'm still not sure is what is tested in the GEP selection. Surely it is not just another IQ test.

I've seen kids with consistently excellent results from from P1~P3 not even making it to the selection when maybe 40~50 qualified, and some multi-talented (academic, performing arts, leadership) missing out on the final selection whe 1-~20 were selected.

I've met some of these kids. Some are really all-rounders....u can put them in any school and they will still excel. There are some who looks like ADD....others in a world of their own...some excellent in science but sux in math or vice versa. They r not an homogenous group of kids.

So my point is, if u r not selected, it does not limit your success academically. Similarly, if u r selected, u r not guaranteed academic success....u r still very much in control of your life, ie, it's still up to u whether u want to succeed or not.

very reassuring for Parents nebbermind....
there is many path to success.........
what is define as success anyway? :imanangel:

[concern2]

2ppaamm:

So, in 1984, there was a public concern and MOE put a New Education System in place. Now we have concerns again leh... wonder if a Newer Education System can be put in place.


Look, times have changed. Our country is now richer, with more educated parents and this is the information age, children are knowledgeable, and many more knowledgeable than their teachers. Technology has changed, newer pedagogy have come about and more research has been done. Surely we can come up with a newer system that is better for all our kids? Not just the gifted ones, but everyone.

:goodpost: I so agree to this, 2ppaamm! This is a similar conclusion I have come to after I read about the GEP.

Gosh, 1984 - launch of Apple Macintosh - what milestones have MOE made since then? Recruiting foreign talents like in the sporting arena so to raise standards?? The education system lacks so far behind compared to technology. What would Steve Jobs do if he were minister of Education...Hm...apart from using the latest Apple tech that is... :evil:

2ppaamm:

Surely, we have enough reserves to invest in the most important resources of all?

I hate to add this 2ppaamm, but perhaps our reserves have been used to give away scholarships to foreigners??

[concern2]

Chenonceau:

2ppaamm:

I was lured to put my son into GEP solely because of that word \"individual\", and I thought he'll be given a chance to inquire, to ask and to grow. I thought people will understand giftedness and differences. I was wrong.

2ppaamm's son went to GEP. He is now in uni at 15.

Is it cos of GEP or was it through accelerating his grades on part of 2ppaamm? Think there is a difference here.

[concern2]

Nebbermind:

concern2:

:scratchhead: So it is still about grades?

Surely diff GEP parents will have diff wishlist. But so far none has shared here in this thread.

One thing I'm still not sure is what is tested in the GEP selection. Surely it is not just another IQ test.

I've seen kids with consistently excellent results from from P1~P3 not even making it to the selection when maybe 40~50 qualified, and some multi-talented (academic, performing arts, leadership) missing out on the final selection whe 1-~20 were selected.

I've met some of these kids. Some are really all-rounders....u can put them in any school and they will still excel. There are some who looks like ADD....others in a world of their own...some excellent in science but sux in math or vice versa. They r not an homogenous group of kids.

So my point is, if u r not selected, it does not limit your success academically. Similarly, if u r selected, u r not guaranteed academic success....u r still very much in control of your life, ie, it's still up to u whether u want to succeed or not.

Thanks, nebbermind, for your clarifications. I am hoping to hear more input from other parents on GEP. Hoping for some enlightenment in this topic..

[Chenonceau]

concern2:

Chenonceau:

[quote=\"2ppaamm\"]
I was lured to put my son into GEP solely because of that word \"individual\", and I thought he'll be given a chance to inquire, to ask and to grow. I thought people will understand giftedness and differences. I was wrong.

2ppaamm's son went to GEP. He is now in uni at 15.

Is it cos of GEP or was it through accelerating his grades on part of 2ppaamm? Think there is a difference here.[/quote]I think it was 2ppaaamm. Gifted children don't usually come in cookie cutter shapes. The current GEP has a syllabus at its centre, and is not entirely child responsive i.e., you observe EACH child and feel its interests and strengths and sculpt accordingly. In addition GEP kids also have the stress of PSLE which is entirely syllabus-centric.

When I evaluated the program a few years ago, the combination of both syllabus-centric PSLE + syllabus-centric broad-based GEP exposure + grades looked like a lot of work and stress. But maybe it's just me, and since we've never actually experienced the GEP personally, I think it's time to :siam:

[2ppaamm]

Nebbermind:

concern2:

:scratchhead: So it is still about grades?

Surely diff GEP parents will have diff wishlist. But so far none has shared here in this thread.

One thing I'm still not sure is what is tested in the GEP selection. Surely it is not just another IQ test.

I've seen kids with consistently excellent results from from P1~P3 not even making it to the selection when maybe 40~50 qualified, and some multi-talented (academic, performing arts, leadership) missing out on the final selection whe 1-~20 were selected.

I've met some of these kids. Some are really all-rounders....u can put them in any school and they will still excel. There are some who looks like ADD....others in a world of their own...some excellent in science but sux in math or vice versa. They r not an homogenous group of kids.

So my point is, if u r not selected, it does not limit your success academically. Similarly, if u r selected, u r not guaranteed academic success....u r still very much in control of your life, ie, it's still up to u whether u want to succeed or not.

Wish list for GEP or wish list for the child? Thought I shared the latter earlier.

[Nebbermind]

In this forum, most of the time we are talking about neither. It's usually the wishlist of parents here!!!

[2ppaamm]

Chenonceau:

2ppaamm:

I was lured to put my son into GEP solely because of that word \"individual\", and I thought he'll be given a chance to inquire, to ask and to grow. I thought people will understand giftedness and differences. I was wrong.

2ppaamm's son went to GEP. He is now in uni at 15.

Actually, he just turned 12 this year.