Is GEP really necessary?
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jtoh:
One test determines 3 yrs of your life...after PSLE, it's another race altogether! And there'll be many more races that determines yr future!
Can't say that I agree with your statement in blue. The GEP test does not determine your future forever.2ppaamm:
What is being taught in GEP that cannot be taught to a bigger group of students who did not make the tests, but are no less smart or academically inclined. Afterall, we know that GEP program is really just academic. There are many, many, many non-GEPers who could easily handle the GEP workload and syllabus. One test determines your future forever.
Juz my 2cents -
Nebbermind:
One test determines 3 yrs of your life...after PSLE, it's another race altogether! And there'll be many more races that determines yr future!
Can't say that I agree with your statement in blue. The GEP test does not determine your future forever.jtoh:
[quote=\"2ppaamm\"]
What is being taught in GEP that cannot be taught to a bigger group of students who did not make the tests, but are no less smart or academically inclined. Afterall, we know that GEP program is really just academic. There are many, many, many non-GEPers who could easily handle the GEP workload and syllabus. One test determines your future forever.
Juz my 2cents[/quote]why one test determine your future forever or for 3 years ? can always choose not to accept it.
again the root cause is parents. GEP is not the same as NS conscription -
Nebbermind:
Maybe my definition of giftedness is wrong. Firstly, there is already one bunch who are weeded out during the GEP screening tests. Those who are only good in either Math or Eng, and not both. GEP forgets that gifted kids' learning is asynchronous.2ppaamm:
but unfortunately, this kind of students seem to outnumber the authentically gifted ones.
Is this true? Not doubting u, but I totally have no feel of the qty at all. These prep class are like $(4-figure) and only short-term, right?
The above is a sizable group. So in the end, what we have in GEP are those good in BOTH. Most people are gifted in ONE area, rarely in many areas, especially both English and Math, two completely different poles. I venture to guess that the few truly gifted ones to get through are those so good in one area, they manage to cover the weakness in the other area. Or they are so bright, their weak area is also relatively strong. Other than these kids, most have taken the place of those who are strong and excel in either English or Math. Honestly, how many world renowned Mathematicians are also great in language?
Gifted learners are also independent learners, seldom needing the help to grasp advanced and complicated ideas. This differs completely from tuitioned children. I know kids who can solve simultaneous equations, understand how lifts work, figure out the water cycle WITHOUT instruction. Reading novels at 4 with understanding. Hence, I not only cancel out the prep classes, I also cancel out HEAVILY tuitioned kids, especially those needing tuition in BOTH English and Math.
Gifted children take less for granted, asking the hows, whys and whats forever. This irritates the Singapore teachers. Unfortunately, by the time they reach P4, this wonderful skill would have been tamed and removed by our system. But there are a few die-hard ones. I venture to guess these are the ones who are truly different. But guess what. They also will be weeded out by P5 when GEP comes down with a cane for their attitude. Challenging anything (including that wrong spelling on the wall, or why should I go for music class when I already have grade
is considered rude and bad attitude. I am not endorsing this behavior but remember, they are gifted and they have asynchronous development. While they are gifted intellectually, they are still 10 and need to be taught which things can be challenged, which cannot. Do those challenges a few times and sayonara.
They are also motivated and want to do things themselves. At the tests, we cannot really test this. As long as a kid can answer a question, he is better off than a kid who cannot. Many gifted kids try and use interesting methods to solve questions at the tests, while the prep'd ones were already given strategies. Again, more prep class = better.
Those are just a few. I don't have hard numbers. No one will. Observation is all I can offer. And, of course in some ways I am wrong, but in some ways I will be right. I'd rather be sometimes wrong and have a chance to learn than to be always right.
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Nebbermind:
One test determines 3 yrs of your life...after PSLE, it's another race altogether! And there'll be many more races that determines yr future!
Can't say that I agree with your statement in blue. The GEP test does not determine your future forever.jtoh:
[quote=\"2ppaamm\"]
What is being taught in GEP that cannot be taught to a bigger group of students who did not make the tests, but are no less smart or academically inclined. Afterall, we know that GEP program is really just academic. There are many, many, many non-GEPers who could easily handle the GEP workload and syllabus. One test determines your future forever.
Juz my 2cents[/quote]Plus a scholarship for the rest of your secondary school years, plus all the benefits you get, plus the cohort you mix with, plus the branding. Sure is the rest of your life for some poor families who cannot afford this kind of education.
O, plus better DSA chance into a good sec school.
Imagine a child gifted in English ONLY from a poor family. He will have no opportunities to go to a good sec school, deprived of a GEP class he deserves. I have one such case. Fortunately, he was identified in 1996 (P4). He could not afford an IP education without that GEP scholarship. Imagine, this same person nearly had no tertiary education. And, guess what. He is gifted, so gifted in humanities and write so well that he is rare... -
2ppaamm:
Please a scholarship for the rest of your secondary school years, plus all the benefits you get, plus the cohort you mix with, plus the branding. Sure is the rest of your life for some poor families who cannot afford this kind of education.
believe it still depends on your yearly performance. Then again, there are also good non-independent schools (and also IP) to choose from. -
2ppaamm:
O, plus better DSA chance into a good sec school.
This, I agree, probably set u apart from the rest for some schools.
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Nebbermind:
So are we saying a rich child with prep and tuitions should go into GEP with a scholarship, a gifted child should have less choices or go to a neighbourhood school, since most top schools are independent now, right?2ppaamm:
Please a scholarship for the rest of your secondary school years, plus all the benefits you get, plus the cohort you mix with, plus the branding. Sure is the rest of your life for some poor families who cannot afford this kind of education.
believe it still depends on your yearly performance. Then again, there are also good non-independent schools (and also IP) to choose from. -
2ppaamm:
IP only started in year 2004, and EESIS is not restricted to GEP only
Plus a scholarship for the rest of your secondary school years, plus all the benefits you get, plus the cohort you mix with, plus the branding. Sure is the rest of your life for some poor families who cannot afford this kind of education.
O, plus better DSA chance into a good sec school.
Imagine a child gifted in English ONLY from a poor family. He will have no opportunities to go to a good sec school, deprived of a GEP class he deserves. I have one such case. Fortunately, he was identified in 1996 (P4). He could not afford an IP education without that GEP scholarship. Imagine, this same person nearly had no tertiary education. And, guess what. He is gifted, so gifted in humanities and write so well that he is rare... -
2ppaamm:
My dd had teachers in GEP who were wonderfully tolerant of those who asked endless questions and one who I suspect had ADHD and was disruptive in class. I remember thinking that the teachers were well-trained to handle the idiosyncratic behaviours of these students. Perhaps your son was unfortunate that his teachers were not as tolerant.[
Gifted children take less for granted, asking the hows, whys and whats forever. This irritates the Singapore teachers. Unfortunately, by the time they reach P4, this wonderful skill would have been tamed and removed by our system. But there are a few die-hard ones. I venture to guess these are the ones who are truly different. But guess what. They also will be weeded out by P5 when GEP comes down with a cane for their attitude. Challenging anything (including that wrong spelling on the wall, or why should I go for music class when I already have grade is considered rude and bad attitude. I am not endorsing this behavior but remember, they are gifted and they have asynchronous development. While they are gifted intellectually, they are still 10 and need to be taught which things can be challenged, which cannot. Do those challenges a few times and sayonara. -
Is GEP really necessary?
If it’s designed to cater to kids with special needs, yes.
If the intention is to groom leaders or specialists in a developing country to raise the quality of the human resource, yes. But Singapore has progressed beyond this need.
Unfortunately, the GEP is used as a guaranteed passport to an elite education. This is the grand prize that pushes all parents to overdrive.
So much is invested in so few, and these few are given the best tools and resources. And at the end of P6, the same students fight an unfair placement fight with the GEPpers given an almost confirmed DSA. The leftover places in coveted secondary schools forces parents to a feeding frenzy.
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