GEP 2012 - Screening & Selection

[metz]

shine:

chamonix:

Is it possible for parents in GEP to be totally hands-off (and no enrichments/tuitions) if their children are enjoying the process but not scoring well like 70% and above? Won't the teachers have a word with the parents in such a scenario?

This is what I fear, got to be involved in their work and then no more ME time liao!

Hi Shine,

If that's what you are worrying about, then take it that certain amount of parental involvement is required by the program. From friends' experiences, this is very true.

This is the first time my son is taking school exams in Singapore. So, it is a learning experience for me. Now, I do understand why most parents still send their kids for enrichments/tuitions (or are involved in their studies) even though their kids are at the top...

[metz]

Nebbermind:

gogoahead:

my ds SA2 score is so poor and i cannot understand how come he can pass the GEP screening test....

What do u mean by 'so poor'?
I've seen kids who didn't even get band 1 for math n science For p3( ok, maybe high band 2) n got into gep, No prep, no tuition, while the one with 90ish consistently didn't even get past 1st rd. There will be some :scared: on the day of the gep selection result.

Being in GEP doesn't necessary equate to being PSLE top scorers.

In the same manner, doing well in school exams/tests does not necessary correlate with doing well in screening/selection tests.

If one can acknowledge and accept the differences, then there should be no undue surprise or shock. Just my 2 cents.

[shine]

tayv:

After reading some of the posts here, I kinda have this feeling that some of the forumers are already certain that their kids will get into GEP.


I guess the selection results will be only be out in a week time. The right thing to do is to hope for the best but not harbour too much hope.

The level of disappointment is directly proportional to the amount of hope one has.

I don’t think anyone here is very definite that their child will get into GEP. I see it this way: If didn’t get into GEP, good, no need to crack our brains. If get in, then easier to make an informed decision as all useful and relevant information would have been gathered.

[tayv]

Hi all,


Sorry to pour cold water.

The choice is pretty obvious. If a child got thru the second round, it is more than certain that his/her parents would want to accept the GEP offer. If not, why let the kid go thru the GEP Selection Test?

I don’t think many has the mindset to use GEP Selection Test solely as a means to ascertain their kids’ intellectual ability versus the whole nation standard.

The question is not whether to accept or not to accept when selected. The real question is whether would my kid be branded as "gifted"?

I guess all the questions on whether which GEP school to choose, whether the younger siblings can transfer school together, whether parental effort will be stretched are only meaningful when the kid is eventually selected, not at this point of time.

SA 2 exams would have been over for most of the Pri 3 kids, so it is time for all, parents and kids to relax abit rather than to ponder what to do when my kid is selected. When lucky stars fall, most will know what to do.

Cheers!

[iRabbit]

tayv:

Hi all,


Sorry to pour cold water.

The choice is pretty obvious. If a child got thru the second round, it is more than certain that his/her parents would want to accept the GEP offer. If not, why let the kid go thru the GEP Selection Test?

So going by your reasoning, if you go for job interviews and is offered the post, you're \"more than certain\" to accept it (otherwise why will you go for multiple job interviews at the same company right?) If I've interpreted your logic wrongly, pls correct me.

[simple2005]

tayv:

Hi all,


Sorry to pour cold water.

The choice is pretty obvious. If a child got thru the second round, it is more than certain that his/her parents would want to accept the GEP offer. If not, why let the kid go thru the GEP Selection Test?

Benefit of the doubt to them that perhaps they have not fully decided, and there is a chance they may accept, while in the meantime find out exactly what it means to be 'gifted' (google for: asynchronous development), what is the program about, and how it would help the child. Bear in mind that it will not benefit every child, and it is the duty of the parent to understand their own child, and come to a decision if the child will fit better in that environment.

tayv:

I don't think many has the mindset to use GEP Selection Test solely as a means to ascertain their kids' intellectual ability versus the whole nation standard.

It's not solely about the intellectual ability, but coming to understand the classification of the ability, these are not necessarily strongest in all the students, but they exercise intellectual maturity to think and extrapolate new ideas and thoughts.

tayv:

The question is not whether to accept or not to accept when selected. The real question is whether would my kid be branded as \"gifted\"?

'gifted', IMHO, is a bad choice of word, and this has led many into thinking it is all about academic results and success. IMO, it's about how a child classified in this category may not fit in the mainstream, and will benefit with different way of educating. A good number of them do have problem fitting in the mainstream.

tayv:

SA 2 exams would have been over for most of the Pri 3 kids, so it is time for all, parents and kids to relax abit rather than to ponder what to do when my kid is selected. When lucky stars fall, most will know what to do.

The program is not a one size fit all, and being in this category may, for some parents, help to explain the 'issues' their child has in school. And it may well be time to ponder about whether the program can help, if they wish to seek another path, or stay as it is and try to work things out.

Naturally, this child would likely have some good idea what it means, and should also be consulted and have a say in the final decision.

To me, it's not about 'lucky stars', and it's never meant to be a 'cream of the crop' classification. These children will trip and fall just like any other.

Cheers.

[Nebbermind]

It’s good to see parents coming forward asking about the program. When my boy was selected, we didn’t have the faintest idea what gep is all about. Eventually found out a close friend’s boy was got into gep one year earlier. We were still very unsure when we went for the briefing coz our boy was not the self motivated type.

We more or less left it to him to decide after the briefing and was quite surprised he was more keen on the new challenges than ourselves!

So we bit the Bullet and HOOT lah!

I donch know about yr social circle but that friend with gep kid was about the only one we knew and could talk to. So I guess ksp is about the only place where u can get to hear the diff experience of gep parents. Always good to see more view and decide for yourself.

[breezy]

shine:

:thankyou: breezy for sharing your experience.


It’s indeed reassuring and I really appreciate it. You mentioned 3 years ago so I assume your son did PSLE this year? All the best to your son’s PSLE results and may he get into his choice school! :boogie:

Thank u for your well-wishes, shine! :))

[tayv]

Well, I am not trying to start a words war here.


The key point I am trying to bring out is "You Will Never Know The Outcome Until You Have Tried".

Let’s say the situation whereby a parent kept receiving both positive and negative comments from the forum, is he/she still able to draw a conclusive decision based on all the comments?

Amongst receiving negative comments about the GEP programme, would I still let my kid accept the offer when selected? My answer is a straight "Yes". What did not work out for others does not mean will fail on me and what fails on me does not mean it is not good for others.

Just like a job interview, you will never know whether the company is one which you are going to be happy working in just by talking to the HR person who interviewed you.

As individual, we have to make choices all the time in our life. So go with our heart and make them.

I guess anxieties will flow starting next Thursday and parents will start asking their kids to watch out for the mysterious coloured envelope. Some of them would even hunt for the prized envelope themselves by calling the school teachers and even principals asking for the catch. What will come will definitely arrive. PEACE

Lets just stay cool as this is just one of the many evaluations which our kids will face along the education journey.

[sleepy]

Interesting & insightful sharing by experienced GEP parents :goodpost:


Just to chip in my 1 year of experience. In terms of parents' involvement, it's actually lesser in my case, compared to her p1 to p3 years where I had to entertain & enrich her at home. Now she has enough to keep her intrigued and challenged so I can actually sit back & relax.

In fact, I have more ME time this year because she is required to stay back in school on cetain days. So I get to go gym more often and even indulge in my favourite jap drama.

So far she managed to complete all her homework independently. Teachers already taught them well in class. My major involvement is probably helping my dd to type her report out since her typing speed is extremely sloooooowwww.

She's not tip top in her class although consistently among top 5 for every subject. Yes, there's always another classmate who scored much better than her no matter how well prepared she think she is. She is not upset at all though.

From what she relayed to me about her daily interaction with classmates, I don't find the kids in her class extremely competitive with one another. It's probably more of a 'on the same boat, if sink will sink together' kind of kinship :rotflmao:

More importantly to me, she made new friends, fostered some close friendship & enjoyed her lessons in gep immensely.