Is GEP really necessary?
-
RachelSmiley:
I think you have to take issues with whoever said this to you, and if your kid has been targeted this way, GEP or not, then I think you should really stand up for your kid.
Do you agree that gep breeds overinflated ego within the children and that gep kids are given \"unwarranted privileges\" - meaning unjustified, not reasonable, not necessary?
As for what kind of privileges, I have noticed you participated in many pages since 2010 about this issues. I have taken for granted that people know about these. If not, as a GEP mum, you should really find out. Why don't you point Comfy to those pages? I am sure you are a good source of information, because I honestly did not participate in them.
One of my son's friend went to RI on the back of a GEP DSA, with an EEIS. His PSLE aggregate was 24x. He was in the RI GEP class. The RI cutoff that year was 26x. Because of the place he took up, a boy with 26x missed by 0.0xx and was deprived of it, so he probably went to a school of lower cutoff, say HCI that year (2007), a boy of 26x also did not make it to HCI because the cutoff raised by 0.0xx for HCI, and so he goes to let's say Dunman, cutoff say 25x, depriving another child of a place in Dunman, who would otherwise have made it to Dunman. Another child, who would have made to Dunman, missed by 0.00xx to Dunman and went to St Nicks, let's say, with a cutoff of 25x. Because of this, another girl at 25x cannot get in and has to go to say, Crescent Girls. Crescent's cutoff got raised as well, and now becomes 24x. This GEP boy, without the DSA should have gone to school with a cutoff of lower than 245, but he went to RI, depriving at least another 3 or 4 children of their rightful places in the school of their choices. So DSA privilege, while it seems small, is really huge in its effect, so let's not downplay that. One DSA place can affect the lives of 4 or 5, how many GEP DSA places do we have, and how many of them do not meet the COP? Much more than tens, I can tell you, which means up to hundreds of children will not get to their schools of choices because those tens were given unfair advantage on the back of their GEP selection tests.
The next privilege can be found here. http://www.moe.gov.sg/initiatives/edusave/funds-grants-awards/eesis/
There is nothing wrong with your child enjoying the GEP program, and you are entitled with your opinion that GEP is a good program, that's good for you! But that does not mean there is no unfairness in the system. Those are independent, and mutually exclusive issues.
BTW, I am spending time to explain things. If I detect any unwarranted or sarcastic remarks from anyone, I will leave the thread immediately. Just like everyone else, my time is precious, too, and I can choose not to answer anything I don't want to. This is a forum, so let's be polite if we need information from one another. -
comfy:
Ok, now small ratio class. Just curious, do you believe that your child requires the smaller class ratio compared to a weaker child? :scratchhead:
Hi RachelSmiley,
I don't think so. That why I ask 2ppaamm that question. Perhaps she know more (from her comment) . Maybe there are kids with inflated egos but I believe they are in the minority. When my dd was in P4, her teacher told them (the class) that everyone is gifted in different ways, some are good in certain subjects and other might found it more challenging.
Yes, to me GEP is just a programme and a programme that my dd enjoyed.
I am puzzled when 2ppaamm, kept on mentioning 'perks and privileges that GEP have ', (besides DSA and smaller ratio), so what others if she can kindly point out. This is so that other parents can be enlighten as well. To 2ppaamm, I have been following the GEP thread, so far, these are the 'benefits' that frequently mentioned, so if you can and if you have the time (after a restful sleep, :snooze: :snooze: ), please share more. -
2ppaamm:
For my child, depends on the subject and teacher. Weaker child in term of academic subjects?
Ok, now small ratio class. Just curious, do you believe that your child requires the smaller class ratio compared to a weaker child? :scratchhead:comfy:
Hi RachelSmiley,
I don't think so. That why I ask 2ppaamm that question. Perhaps she know more (from her comment) . Maybe there are kids with inflated egos but I believe they are in the minority. When my dd was in P4, her teacher told them (the class) that everyone is gifted in different ways, some are good in certain subjects and other might found it more challenging.
Yes, to me GEP is just a programme and a programme that my dd enjoyed.
I am puzzled when 2ppaamm, kept on mentioning 'perks and privileges that GEP have ', (besides DSA and smaller ratio), so what others if she can kindly point out. This is so that other parents can be enlighten as well. To 2ppaamm, I have been following the GEP thread, so far, these are the 'benefits' that frequently mentioned, so if you can and if you have the time (after a restful sleep, :snooze: :snooze: ), please share more.
-
comfy:
Yes, do you think a child weaker academically than your child should have a smaller class than your child, and why or why not?
For my child, depends on the subject and teacher. Weaker child in term of academic subjects? -
Why need to argue with kids?
They are straight-forward kids. Let them express their view because they have experienced it.
Forum is to login and logout. Why put the words inside the heart. If the heart is too small to take in criticsm or support, don’t participate in forum.
If you browse thru teenager’s facebook comments, all are very straight-forward and they don’t care the feeling of the other party.
sua sua gi
buat bodoh lah
don’t care -
I not siding with anyone.
Just that respect should be given to all who takes time to write something meaningful here for the benefit of all, whether they are just a student or a professional.
Do avoid \"XYZ\" kind of words even in hot topics, think we don't want our children to learn that, right?
I do not have any kids in GEP nor I know about GEP. I just curious so come here to see see look look.
Do have a nice weekend though! :imcool: -
2ppaamm:
All I know of is that Gep kids have to work hard in order to be offered CO through DSA. They have to 'justified' themselves through showing what they have achieved throughout their 3 years in that programme. Yes, I will like to believe that they most did well for their SA1 (P5 & P6) but perhaps a handful didn't get high PSLE score but because of DSA are able to enter those schools that you mentioned. Personally, I think this is the beauty of DSA, isn' it, not just based on one PSLE exam but allow the schools to accept certain/different type of students. From what I read from the DSA thread, quite a few of maintstream students are also offered CO/WL regardless of their PSLE aggregate. So ultimately, it depends on the school.
I think you have to take issues with whoever said this to you, and if your kid has been targeted this way, GEP or not, then I think you should really stand up for your kid.RachelSmiley:
Do you agree that gep breeds overinflated ego within the children and that gep kids are given \"unwarranted privileges\" - meaning unjustified, not reasonable, not necessary?
As for what kind of privileges, I have noticed you participated in many pages since 2010 about this issues. I have taken for granted that people know about these. If not, as a GEP mum, you should really find out. Why don't you point Comfy to those pages? I am sure you are a good source of information, because I honestly did not participate in them.
One of my son's friend went to RI on the back of a GEP DSA, with an EEIS. His PSLE aggregate was 24x. He was in the RI GEP class. The RI cutoff that year was 26x. Because of the place he took up, a boy with 26x missed by 0.0xx and was deprived of it, so he probably went to a school of lower cutoff, say HCI that year (2007), a boy of 26x also did not make it to HCI because the cutoff raised by 0.0xx for HCI, and so he goes to let's say Dunman, cutoff say 25x, depriving another child of a place in Dunman, who would otherwise have made it to Dunman. Another child, who would have made to Dunman, missed by 0.00xx to Dunman and went to St Nicks, let's say, with a cutoff of 25x. Because of this, another girl at 25x cannot get in and has to go to say, Crescent Girls. Crescent's cutoff got raised as well, and now becomes 24x. This GEP boy, without the DSA should have gone to school with a cutoff of lower than 245, but he went to RI, depriving at least another 3 or 4 children of their rightful places in the school of their choices. So DSA privilege, while it seems small, is really huge in its effect, so let's not downplay that. One DSA place can affect the lives of 4 or 5, how many GEP DSA places do we have, and how many of them do not meet the COP? Much more than tens, I can tell you, which means up to hundreds of children will not get to their schools of choices because those tens were given unfair advantage on the back of their GEP selection tests.
The next privilege can be found here. http://www.moe.gov.sg/initiatives/edusave/funds-grants-awards/eesis/
There is nothing wrong with your child enjoying the GEP program, and you are entitled with your opinion that GEP is a good program, that's good for you! But that does not mean there is no unfairness in the system. Those are independent, and mutually exclusive issues. -
2ppaamm:
A conditional yes. If the teacher is able/willing to teach and identify the weakness of the kid. If the kid wants to improve. Have I answer your questoin? Pardon me, have to read your post a few times, getting old.
Yes, do you think a child weaker academically than your child should have a smaller class than your child, and why or why not?comfy:
For my child, depends on the subject and teacher. Weaker child in term of academic subjects? -
Edureach:
Well said, Edureach, I remembered how boastful and ambitious I was when I was in U and Post U days. In the real world, there are millions better than you out there. 三人行，必有吾师2ppaamm
... i hve learnt all these years that the market is bigger than me and i need to listen to the price actions of a counter which i hve a position. Thinking that one is supreme in his area of expertise will spell disaster. There's always something for me to learn from someone.
....
Looking back, i realised how folly i was. -
cherryc:
Don't know those 精英们 really can understand this Chinese article or not :imcool:纪赟：新加坡小学教育的反思 Zaobao 17-8-2012
在学习上处于劣势，其实完全可以在今后的教育上得以弥补，而我更担心的一点却是，新加坡这样一种严格的小学精英筛选机制，会使一些开窍过晚的孩子由于分流过早，从而永远失去未来的机会。更有甚者，这种半天制再加上筛选的方式，还会加大社会分层。因为给孩子上各种补习班或请家教，会直接与父母的教育程度、收入情况、社会地位等相关，非常明显一些处在社会底层的人士，他们的子女很难获得更好的补充教育机会。
提出以上意见，不代表我否认新加坡教育的巨大优势。比起中国，本地英式教育更利于学生的国际化，并且非常透明的制度保障，也比中国要更为公平。我对自己女儿的教育并不担心，因为新加坡的教育总体而言更有利于培养精英，我和家人也有足够的精力与物质投入，可以保障她在未来的残酷竞争获得一席之地，然而我们是否能够指望每一个新加坡家庭，都能良好地面对并处理这样一种空前的压力呢？
一个成功的教育，并不仅仅只是层层筛选出以后管理我们这个社会的少数精英，而将其他众多人置于一旁去接受打过折扣的次一等教育——即使你给这个方式加上一个“因材施教”的堂皇招牌。教育应该是去尽量发挥每一个孩童最大的潜力，呵护改善并提高他们的能力与心智，并使他们成为真正能推动新加坡社会前进步伐的主人。
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
