Is GEP really necessary?
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Tay Eng Soon initiated the GEP in 1984. The Minister felt a compelling need to develop a special programme so as to enable bright children to realise their full potential, believing these children to have characteristics which would disadvantage them in a normal class setting, and in extreme situations lose their intellectual powers altogether, resulting in a loss for the society.
But do we really need the GEP of today? The tests, a whole department etc etc… Should just 1% of the cohort receive that ‘special’ treatment? I am thinking… how can we make sure we nurture these academically strong children with perhaps a more up-to-date system. Do you have any ideas?
My thoughts include:
1. Extend a smaller class size to not just 500 but a bigger cohort, but have these in every school.
2. Differentiated / enriched or accelerated curriculum
3. Pull-out from existing classes with enrichment in subjects child is gifted in.
Etc… what are your thoughts? -
Currently primary schools already have top one/ two classes; they are given differentiated/ accelerated curriculum. This strategy has resulted in more tuitions/ more stress as parents seek to place their kids in the top classes pr 3 and onwards.
I think one issue about gifted children is that for the high ability children, it is possible that they be "nurtured" into GEP? That’s why there are GEP prep classes. -
Are high ability classes good enough or do the gifted students need to be in GEP to excel? This is something I have been debating within myself the last 2 days.
On one hand, I think that GEP is not very healthy, given all the prep classes and hence many students are not even gifted but hardworking, and the elitism. But on the other hand, my own son loved and can connect with his GEP classmates much better than in lower primary.
Quite torn about it. You see, those very hardworking or prep’ed ones, they will excel in any academic setting. But for those like my son, without the GEP classes, not sure where he will find his close friends. -
it is NOT necessary at all. why segregate the kids?? even if the child is gifted, he/she need NOT be separate from his/her friends and go to a new sch (which has GEP program). he/she can excel in his/her current school. just have to think of ways to let them.
and gifted children need to mingle around with other kids, NOT just among GEP kids. This is especially important when they go out to work.
and why label the kids so early? this kind of elitism mentality, only the people in ivory tower can think of.
why should there even be high ability class? for what purpose? to label the children even more? children go to schools to learn things, socialise, etc not to take exam and exam and more exam to see which child do better. -
smurf:
I really agree with you about most things. Just that my son was ostracized when he was in lower primary because of the way he is. No one understands his humour, his thinking etc. Nevertheless, he did find a handful of friends.it is NOT necessary at all. why segregate the kids?? even if the child is gifted, he/she need NOT be separate from his/her friends and go to a new sch (which has GEP program). he/she can excel in his/her current school. just have to think of ways to let them.
and gifted children need to mingle around with other kids, NOT just among GEP kids. This is especially important when they go out to work.
and why label the kids so early? this kind of elitism mentality, only the people in ivory tower can think of.
why should there even be high ability class? for what purpose? to label the children even more? children go to schools to learn things, socialise, etc not to take exam and exam and more exam to see which child do better.
So in conclusion, I still agree with you. It is even more important for them to find friends among those who will not understand them. This is how the real world really works, anyway. -
the GEP kids in GEP centres are NOT segregated from the rest of the mainstream classes. inter-mingle classes has been around for quite sometime now
you can't have every school running GEP curriculum if there is no critical mass and it is a waste of precious resources
GEP kids transferred to GEP centres from non-GEP school are not necessarily separated from friends - they can make new friends in the new school and keep in touch with 'old' friends. what is the problem ? Gifted right ? Make new friends lah .......
it is the mindset of parents who think 'elitism' that their kids being transferred to GEP cnetre must be damn exclusive ? and have no friends outside of GEP classroom ? C'mon, parents, get a life, you are too 'elitist' in your own mindset to begin with. It boils down to upbringing to start from home
okay, now, let the stones fly
:siam: :siam: -
Why must things be so absolute? Some kids like to learn at a faster pace, there are kids who wants to learn at the normal pace and kids who learn at their own pace. Wouldn’t it be nice if parents and educators just let the kids lead.
I like the Montessori method and I heard in Canada it’s used beyond the kindergarten level. I’ve never research further since I’m stuck here and lack the ability to change the education system. Though I wonder how’s it’s carried out. I think using MM will address the issue of GEP, HA classes and normal classes. Since it’s the child leading the way to learning.
Education is about hope not stress, about character not test, about learning not trophies. Not realistic? But nice if it is. -
I am actually pro GEP( my kid in mainstream ), these kids love independent work n show great passion in the area they are interested in. They need facilitator n not teachers. However, high ability or hardworking kid like my girl, they still need to be taught the fundamental to help them see lights... Throwing them project n independent work (teach less learn more) simply stress us .
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2ppaamm:
I do not think GEP is required to let a gifted child excel, have seen many gifted kids that excel extremely well in University though they were not in GEP. However, GEP does provide interesting curriculum for gifted kids to keep their minds stretched and stimulate their thinking.Are high ability classes good enough or do the gifted students need to be in GEP to excel? This is something I have been debating within myself the last 2 days.
On one hand, I think that GEP is not very healthy, given all the prep classes and hence many students are not even gifted but hardworking, and the elitism. But on the other hand, my own son loved and can connect with his GEP classmates much better than in lower primary.
Quite torn about it. You see, those very hardworking or prep'ed ones, they will excel in any academic setting. But for those like my son, without the GEP classes, not sure where he will find his close friends.
IMHO, almost all GEP Prep classes .. are marketing gimick. They filtered their intake and displayed the success rate based on the GEP Screening Test rather than Selection Test, which is the top 10% of the cohort. GA papers in GEP selection Test are similar to IQ test though not totally. GA cannot be prep or drill like most IQ Test. You either see the question and understand or you don't.
The only part that can probably be prep are the EL and Maths paper which contribute to 50% of the Selection Test. Yet these papers are benchmark way beyond the kids level. With such elevated level, the kids themselves will need to have the ability to understand these higher level concept. Not all kids can handle concepts or principles beyond their level.
So technically, you can't really prep for GEP.
Just as IQ Test cannot really be prep, so GEP Selection Test is the same. -
verykiasu2010:
Agreed with you. They are just as common as any other kids just that their mind move a lot faster then the rest. They share the same emotions, feelings, anxieties, fears, etc as any other kids. So they will make friends the same way as any other kids.GEP kids transferred to GEP centres from non-GEP school are not necessarily separated from friends - they can make new friends in the new school and keep in touch with 'old' friends. what is the problem ? Gifted right ? Make new friends lah .......
it is the mindset of parents who think 'elitism' that their kids being transferred to GEP cnetre must be damn exclusive ? and have no friends outside of GEP classroom ? C'mon, parents, get a life, you are too 'elitist' in your own mindset to begin with. It boils down to upbringing to start from home
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