Is GEP really necessary?

[Nebbermind]

2ppaamm:

So what is in GEP that makes it necessary for them to be pulled out of their primary schools and go into a different school? Does anyone know? Why can't enrichment be done in the same primary school?

Limited resources/teachers? I remember GEP has their own grp of teachers but not sure if it's the same for every school.

[2ppaamm]

Nebbermind:

2ppaamm:

So what is in GEP that makes it necessary for them to be pulled out of their primary schools and go into a different school? Does anyone know? Why can't enrichment be done in the same primary school?

Limited resources/teachers? I remember GEP has their own grp of teachers but not sure if it's the same for every school.

If GEPers are supposed to be the smartest, they learn the fastest, why are their class sizes the smallest? Gifted learners can learn without instructions. Why can't we have bigger classes of GEP? and smaller classes of those with learning difficulties, the special needs?

Afterall, GEP weeds out all difficult cases under this thing called 'attitude rating' and focus on a uniform group of children. They should be the easiest to handle in the whole school. The rest of the school have special needs, learning difficulties, behavioral problems etc etc, and these cannot be weeded out. The rest of the school needs more resources.

[naggo-nitemare]

jtoh:

Sun 2010 and vk2010, I like your posts. They reflect my sentiments too. Now I don't need to write so much. Just like your posts can already.

2 thumbs up! Sun 2010 and vk2010, tks for good posts.

[Nebbermind]

2ppaamm:

If GEPers are supposed to be the smartest, they learn the fastest, why are their class sizes the smallest? Gifted learners can learn without instructions. Why can't we have bigger classes of GEP? and smaller classes of those with learning difficulties?

I've seen these kids before...they can be so vocal and many can be easily distracted...so it's not easy to manage...not trying to justify....juz sharing.

[2ppaamm]

Nebbermind:

2ppaamm:

If GEPers are supposed to be the smartest, they learn the fastest, why are their class sizes the smallest? Gifted learners can learn without instructions. Why can't we have bigger classes of GEP? and smaller classes of those with learning difficulties?

I've seen these kids before...they can be so vocal and many can be easily distracted...so it's not easy to manage...not trying to justify....juz sharing.

when was that? too vocal all they have to do is weed you out. I also saw this myself... maybe different years or different schools.

[Nebbermind]

For me, the GEP is not necessary.


BUT...having been part of the 'scheme' and beneiftted from it, I've nothing against it.

[simple2005]

verykiasu2010:

can't run away from the normal distribution of kids' talent or abilities or 'giftedness'


good thing that MOE Tay Eng Soon recognised it earlier on to provide differentiated learning for the kids

must every GEP-labelled kid score right at the top ? GEP is not about scoring in PSLE exam. If it is about scoring, then just hire a personal coach to prepare and drill for PSLE will do, no need to be so troublesome

It is about enriched curriculum stretching the intellectual ability of the kids. Never about exam. It is also not about grooming an Issac Newton or Thomas Edison or Einstein or Galileo .... it is about not stifling them in their intellectual curiosity based on the normal curriculum

A good summary from VK2010.

The gifted children in general terms are one who have higher abilities in specific areas, and/or in general, are able to pick up advanced concepts quickly. In many cases, mainstream way of learning through drilling/assessment books etc do not suit them, and perhaps they are repulsive to them. But having such abilities does not mean they will get the best results in school, the idea is to have a program where they can learn through their abilities, and the program is such that it will likely not suit other children, who benefits more from the mainstream teaching/study methods.

These children are sometimes also termed to have asynchronous development, meaning they have much high ability in certain areas, but normal in others. So for example, some are mature in understanding complex mathematical concepts, but struggle to come to terms with sharing, just like other children. The program is to not stifle their ability to absorb while they exhibit it so young, but also to manage their growth in other areas. In many cases, these children could be more difficult to handle, they can debate with advanced skills of logic and language, on the most trivial childish topics.

For a lack of a better term, GEP is also a 'special needs' program for young children coming to terms with their advanced ability which is not aligned with their development based on age.

It's probably also true that as they grow, the mainstream children do catch up, and perhaps be on par, or better then the GEP peers, that is possible. But the key (at least to me) is to manage the 'inbalance' while they are young.

This is purely my own personal views. Not a right or wrong, I'm still coming to understand how the program can help the child grow.

Cheers.

[smurf]

but this will result in parents putting their children into those GEP-preparation class…to ‘force’ their kids to be GEP-ers. can’t blame them, its rat race after all.


if u r gifted, you are gifted, why need preparation class?

[2ppaamm]

simple2005:

verykiasu2010:

can't run away from the normal distribution of kids' talent or abilities or 'giftedness'


good thing that MOE Tay Eng Soon recognised it earlier on to provide differentiated learning for the kids

must every GEP-labelled kid score right at the top ? GEP is not about scoring in PSLE exam. If it is about scoring, then just hire a personal coach to prepare and drill for PSLE will do, no need to be so troublesome

It is about enriched curriculum stretching the intellectual ability of the kids. Never about exam. It is also not about grooming an Issac Newton or Thomas Edison or Einstein or Galileo .... it is about not stifling them in their intellectual curiosity based on the normal curriculum

A good summary from VK2010.

The gifted children in general terms are one who have higher abilities in specific areas, and/or in general, are able to pick up advanced concepts quickly. In many cases, mainstream way of learning through drilling/assessment books etc do not suit them, and perhaps they are repulsive to them. But having such abilities does not mean they will get the best results in school, the idea is to have a program where they can learn through their abilities, and the program is such that it will likely not suit other children, who benefits more from the mainstream teaching/study methods.

These children are sometimes also termed to have asynchronous development, meaning they have much high ability in certain areas, but normal in others. So for example, some are mature in understanding complex mathematical concepts, but struggle to come to terms with sharing, just like other children. The program is to not stifle their ability to absorb while they exhibit it so young, but also to manage their growth in other areas. In many cases, these children could be more difficult to handle, they can debate with advanced skills of logic and language, on the most trivial childish topics.

For a lack of a better term, GEP is also a 'special needs' program for young children coming to terms with their advanced ability which is not aligned with their development based on age.

It's probably also true that as they grow, the mainstream children do catch up, and perhaps be on par, or better then the GEP peers, that is possible. But the key (at least to me) is to manage the 'inbalance' while they are young.

This is purely my own personal views. Not a right or wrong, I'm still coming to understand how the program can help the child grow.

Cheers.

This is a great post and summarizes what I thought GEP is supposed to be as well. Unfortunately, it seems to have shifted over the years since1984. It has come down to (again) KPIs. The students are measured by not only their academic abilities, but also their attitude. Normally, a student who is not compliant or behaves differently from expectation is termed as having 'bad attitude'. In fact, this attitude thingy is so vague, anything seems to fall into that. Including the parents not 'obedient' to school suggestions.

If the child fails in this attitude department, they are booted out of GEP, and asked to return a neighbourhood school, or wherever their original school was. Where is the understanding that these children are different again?

This is even more dangerous than the normal mainstream. Where at worst, the students are reprimanded or suspended. They are never made to feel they are unwanted or are not good enough for school.

I am worried that at this young age, these children, (especially that they are gifted) have to go through such traumatic experiences. And because they are gifted and more sensitive, these experiences amplify.

I also tend to agree gifted are special needs as well. Unfortunately, the world does not think so. Many automatically assume gifted = everything also can. Wrong. These kids need guidance in different department. Until the teachers/educators/GEP understands this, the GEP program is merely an elitist system, made to identify the gifted and high ability at the end of P3, and then boot out those who really need help to integrate their differences into the society, keeping those who can do well in any environment in the system.

That's one facet of my understanding/view.

[2ppaamm]

smurf:

but this will result in parents putting their children into those GEP-preparation class...to 'force' their kids to be GEP-ers. can't blame them, its rat race after all.


if u r gifted, you are gifted, why need preparation class?

While it is impossible to train giftedness, it is totally possible to train test taking strategies and learning how to do IQ test questions.

As long as GA tests are used, it shall be trainable. Try that out with your kid if you do not believe. Buy an IQ book and work through it this year, and observe how his IQ points improve over the year, while he is exactly the same guy with the same giftedness.