Is GEP really necessary?
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2ppaamm:
No, I am not an interesting creature. Just an ordinary human being trying to understand benefits & privileges of GEP from your remark. What do you intend to see besides yourself in the mirror? :? Ok, OK noted, still digesting your very LONG post.
We are interesting creatures, we can look ourselves in the mirror, and do not see a thing. Read the above post if you like.comfy:
Then it is ok to what? Still don't get it. It is precisely that I can't figure what other advantages that why I ask. Well, it seems to me that there are no other privilege and benefits. Sigh.... was hoping that there are more as your remark/comment seems to imply that (to me). Anyway, thanks for your sharing and questions. Yes, I hope that my dd as well as all kids (gep or non-gep) will have a chance to enter the school that she like. And have a peaceful sleep :snooze: :snooze:
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PiggyLalala:
Hi PigglyLalala,
Hi comfy,comfy:
Hi 2ppaamm, may I know what are the perks and privileges that GEP have besides smaller ratio of teacher to student and DSA?
Just to reassure you, I dont think there is other privileges apart from what are already mentioned in this thread. I can understand why you asked these questions. We are both anxious mothers with a simple wish that our dc can enter a good secondary school of his/her choice. All the best to yr dd in her DSA and PSLE next year.
Actually, the benefits of GEP I know of when my DD was selected for GEP are the smaller class size, interesting child-center learning, excellent teachers and no class position at the end of the year exam. Nothing about DSA & ESSIS and whatever other privileges! So I am really surprised to hear about all these. Ha...intend to find out more since there are parents out there keep on saying so MANY benefits/privilieges. No harm know about these since my kid is in the programme. Yes, all the best to your DC PSLE next year. -
2ppaamm:
Despite everything, I have no regrets about having had DD go to IP. She was well educated. She did and learnt more than academics... and she really enjoyed it. But if she was not at the very pinnacle of her school in performance, she was well-ranked... so I can't even complain about her poor self-esteem and all that. I have no complaints about IP based on what DD experienced.
You are one enlightened soul! You took what I want to say and illustrated it :salute: :please:
Sadly, many people don't realize it, until they have finished their A levels, all well-dressed, and no where to go. So, all these about IP... I won't say it is a lie, but it is a sad, mad rush for nothing. Unless, of course, you are so confident you can top your school, otherwise, it is a stupid game we are asked to play, to the detriment of our own kids. I see this year in year out, and people just think you :siao: until they experience it themselves. Some people learn from other people's mistakes, the rest have to be the others. :boogie:
She really had fun and made friends who truly love her.
I am also happy that she will be going to NUS, where she will meet a mix of people from a wider range of ability bands. She has already learnt some important life lessons. She came home crying from orientation \"Mom... No one wanted to be my friend.\"... This was a shock because DD has always been very popular in school HER WHOLE LIFE. But the ethos and social climate of a top school is very special. When you first start to hang out with non top school people, there are some social habits to break and others to pick up. I am glad she is learning these lessons in NUS.
I gave her some tips and she has learnt fast how to relate to the new people at NUS. She is having great fun now too... and she loves her coursework, her lodgings, her new friends. -
comfy:
These are not inconsequential privileges. The privileges of smaller class size, better teachers and resources have more impact than that of DSA access. Given the same quality of teaching, many non-GEP students would make it into IP schools just by PSLE t-score. This is why some GEP schools spill the GEP resources over to the top 2 classes in mainstream.
Actually, the benefits of GEP I know of when my DD was selected for GEP are the smaller class size, interesting child-center learning, excellent teachers and no class position at the end of the year exam.
In the past, drilling was important and GEP curriculum held no advantage at PSLE. At present, with inquiry-based learning and out of textbook learning de rigueur in in mainstream... access to GEP resources make a difference.
Sadly, the non-GEP schools don't have this luxury... and in my DS' school the top 2 classes have 40 students and almost no extra materials beyond the textbooks. -
Chenonceau:
And I am happy to learn that too! Actually, you are right about uni, in the end things will just be ok.
Despite everything, I have no regrets about having had DD go to IP. She was well educated. She did and learnt more than academics... and she really enjoyed it. But if she was not at the very pinnacle of her school in performance, she was well-ranked... so I can't even complain about her poor self-esteem and all that. I have no complaints about IP based on what DD experienced.2ppaamm:
You are one enlightened soul! You took what I want to say and illustrated it :salute: :please:
Sadly, many people don't realize it, until they have finished their A levels, all well-dressed, and no where to go. So, all these about IP... I won't say it is a lie, but it is a sad, mad rush for nothing. Unless, of course, you are so confident you can top your school, otherwise, it is a stupid game we are asked to play, to the detriment of our own kids. I see this year in year out, and people just think you :siao: until they experience it themselves. Some people learn from other people's mistakes, the rest have to be the others. :boogie:
She really had fun and made friends who truly love her.
I am also happy that she will be going to NUS, where she will meet a mix of people from a wider range of ability bands. She has already learnt some important life lessons. She came home crying from orientation \"Mom... No one wanted to be my friend.\"... This was a shock because DD has always been very popular in school HER WHOLE LIFE. But the ethos and social climate of a top school is very special. When you first start to hang out with non top school people, there are some social habits to break and others to pick up. I am glad she is learning these lessons in NUS.
I gave her some tips and she has learnt fast how to relate to the new people at NUS. She is having great fun now too... and she loves her coursework, her lodgings, her new friends.
Just that every year, top students who work so hard and then wonder why they don't get to the uni they want overseas, and then they realized what happened. Then, we are asked and they nurse their disappointment. Ultimately, they will be just fine. Like you've said, it really does not matter if your aim is not to be an academic. But even if you want to be an academic, there is still the postgrad. It is a new set of skills mixing with people from different and diverse backgrounds, from all schools and all financial representations. In the uni, many students from top school also realize that there are brilliant folks from other schools as well.
Wow! A new milestone for your DD! :celebrate: More things to learn from you as you journey on as a mother of an undergrad!
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2ppaamm:
YOU? Learn from me? Let me finish laughing first!!!!! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Wow! A new milestone for your DD! :celebrate: More things to learn from you as you journey on as a mother of an undergrad!
You know soooooooooooooooooooo much! I learnt so much from YOU! -
Chenonceau:
But I have really learned much from you, and I do look forward to you sharing how your child survive, strive and ultimately do well in NUS. Really do. I don't have any kid in local uni anymore, so I really want to know and learn from your experiences.:) Who knows, they might just return one day. :evil:
YOU? Learn from me? Let me finish laughing first!!!!! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!2ppaamm:
Wow! A new milestone for your DD! :celebrate: More things to learn from you as you journey on as a mother of an undergrad!
You know soooooooooooooooooooo much! I learnt so much from YOU! -
2ppaamm:
But I have really learned much from you, and I do look forward to you sharing how your child survive, strive and ultimately do well in NUS. Really do. I don't have any kid in local uni anymore, so I really want to know and learn from your experiences.:) Who knows, they might just return one day. :evil:[/quote]
YOU? Learn from me? Let me finish laughing first!!!!! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!Chenonceau:
[quote=\"2ppaamm\"]
Wow! A new milestone for your DD! :celebrate: More things to learn from you as you journey on as a mother of an undergrad!
You know soooooooooooooooooooo much! I learnt so much from YOU!
:hugs: -
Not just your son's school, sadly, all primary schs in Singapore other than GEP schools and MGPS (self-run GEP program), all the top 2 classes which may have some with the same high ability as GEPpers but they are in the classes with 40-42 students with almost no extra materials beyond the textbooks. Textbooks are the joke to me! Many parents have no choices but have to subscribe tuition, get private tutors or even take timeout to hothouse the kids - heard too many of these stories and I am one of them too.
Chenonceau:
These are not inconsequential privileges. The privileges of smaller class size, better teachers and resources have more impact than that of DSA access. Given the same quality of teaching, many non-GEP students would make it into IP schools just by PSLE t-score. This is why some GEP schools spill the GEP resources over to the top 2 classes in mainstream.comfy:
Actually, the benefits of GEP I know of when my DD was selected for GEP are the smaller class size, interesting child-center learning, excellent teachers and no class position at the end of the year exam.
In the past, drilling was important and GEP curriculum held no advantage at PSLE. At present, with inquiry-based learning and out of textbook learning de rigueur in in mainstream... access to GEP resources make a difference.
Sadly, the non-GEP schools don't have this luxury... and in my DS' school the top 2 classes have 40 students and almost no extra materials beyond the textbooks. -
Chenonceau:
Hi Chenonceau,
These are not inconsequential privileges. The privileges of smaller class size, better teachers and resources have more impact than that of DSA access. Given the same quality of teaching, many non-GEP students would make it into IP schools just by PSLE t-score. This is why some GEP schools spill the GEP resources over to the top 2 classes in mainstream.comfy:
Actually, the benefits of GEP I know of when my DD was selected for GEP are the smaller class size, interesting child-center learning, excellent teachers and no class position at the end of the year exam.
In the past, drilling was important and GEP curriculum held no advantage at PSLE. At present, with inquiry-based learning and out of textbook learning de rigueur in in mainstream... access to GEP resources make a difference.
Sadly, the non-GEP schools don't have this luxury... and in my DS' school the top 2 classes have 40 students and almost no extra materials beyond the textbooks.
Good news! I heard from one of friends, that her ds (mainstream, top few classes) has two teachers teaching 1 class and the materials are enriched too. Some of the top few classes are offered TTLT programme that cater for students who are interested and have potential in English and Math. So I think the education system is changing for the better.
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