Aristocare
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ForumWriter:
The issue here is not whether GEP training is useful or not but rather the episode makes us more aware that all of us should be careful to interpret the claims of successes by some enrichment centers. In this case looks like the high prices/fees that are charged are justified by his experience as a former GEP student and GEP teacher and his past years GEP questions.Anyway, regarding the AristoCare issue, I believe that Kelvin Ong should be punished. But my feeling is that the government won't want to get its hands dirty by mounting an official investigation; it'll just let those cheated parents complain and sue through the judicial process.
As for the parents who got cheated, I hope that they will not be getting any refunds. After all, the government has said time and again that it doesn't want anyone to train specifically for the GEP.
There is a need to make a point that these parents were cheated willingly: The government already said GEP training is useless; if parents feel that GEP training isn't useless and it turns out to be so, they can't complain and seek refunds!
Naturally some parents who paid for the services may well be upset when these adverts could not be backed up.
Ask any P3 student and everyone will know whether he/she gets selected for GEP and knows which sch he/she is attending. So credibility is called into question when a supposedly GEP teacher/trainer has to ask his mother whether he was in GEP, and he taught in a sch that no one else remembered.
The larger issue is whether there is regulation and by whom, the claims made by various centers. As mentioned earlier, the claims of 80% success into GEP and 50% topping their schools inadvertendly work on the inadequencies of some parents. Are our kids missing out on some secrets of success that even our top primary sch like NY may have difficulty achieving? Even if your kid is top but are you missing on something that can elevate him higher compared to his peers?
Where does one draw the line between the usual advert jargon and untruthful statements? How do we know ever know if claims are true?
There is no easy solution. But those who work on the inadequencies of parents through unethical means should be avoided. -
I pity his mum - being used as an excuse for his lies. Honestly how can someone forgets or don't remember which Primary school he attended? Did he thinks we r juz born yesterday or we r juz too dumb? :mad:
I graduated from my Primary school more than 30 years ago & still can remember the 2 primary schools I went to. -
sleepy:
Some GEP math are very tough, they are using topics from lower sec like arithmetic and geometric progression up to quadratic polynomial pattern. Also have permutation and combination and prime factorization. This kind if you can't understand, outside has no tuition to help so teacher has to do remedial.osim:
Please do not send your kids for GEP training. It's a program meant for the naturally gifted, not for wannabes. The latter suffer having to get tutored to keep up. I've seen some in my daughter's class like these, it's a sorry sight ...
I second that. A few of dd's classmates are attending remedial in school for at least 2 to 4 subjects. Kind of an irony to be in GEP and yet attending GEP remedial. Suffer low self-esteem. -
Want to clarify that the Aristocare GEP tuition Rate quoted by me previously was wrong. Want to get all my facts correct with proof.
Want to be fair to Kelvin Ong of Aristocare even if he lied to us. Went to research his GEP Preparatory Tuition rates from Aristocare’s own online advertisements and website. Information like tuition rates, class size and photos of classes were all posted by Aristocare on their online advertisements and website. Have posted correct Aristocare GEP Preparatory Tuition rates for both Group and Individual GEP Preparatory Tuition below.
1) Kelvin Ong of Aristocare charge $183/hr to $275/hr for GEP preperatory group tuition
- GEP Preperatory Class Group Tuition. Aristocare’s website photo of a GEP Preperatory Class Group Tuition show at least 8 students per session.
$1100 for 4 lessons including material fee; 1.5hr each lesson; $183/hr
- Pri 3 Intensive GEP revision camp. Dunno how many student in camp.
$1650 for 2 session including material fee; 3 hour each session; $275/hr
2) Kelvin Ong of Aristocare charges $500 per 1.5hr for GEP Preparatory individual 1-to-1 tuition. Almost $334/hr!
All information from Kelvin Ong’s own website and online advertisements. -
Lynn2010:
Perhaps these are students who got into GEP through grooming.
I heard about a handful went into GEP but \"cant cope\", not \"cant make it\". Yes they turned back to mainstream (after 1st year) although very few.
......................
\"Cant cope\" - the GEP program is extensive and can be stressful. Things moved very fast. The child needs to be a fast thinker. When i teach a mainstream kid, i work faster than him/her. When i teach my DD (sit down doing the qtn together), I'll be at working step #2 but she already at #8 and gave me the ans.
The natural born GEP students should have no problem. -
Imami:
SBGE ends in Sec 2 because of subject streaming? After sec2 there are special programs to continue to cater for GE kids or any other late bloomers with special talent.
I was about to ask if Gep prep classes are really effective. I always think gifted means gifted, no need artificial aids prior to/during the gep selection. Hence don't quite understand why need prep class :scratchhead:verykiasu2010:
some parents are deluded to think that being charged a high price means must be good, and surprisingly when the child got into GEP (due to his/her own ability rather than anything else), then the parents credit it to the money \"well spent\"...
this is a wake up call that GE ability could not be trained. if the kids have it, they have it. if not, it is just wasting money and pressuring the kids needlessly. parents should understand why SBGE ends at sec 2.
Is this chap the only one offering gep prep class? Ok, I am just curious - is
gel prep class common/popular?
Verykiasu2010, you are also gifted leh, with words
Actually, sometime I think I am quite O Sim for not helping my kid much. When I try to help her, she has to explain to me certain things first, after awhile I don't know who is helping who.
I just go do my cooking and not waste her time. Thank God she has a bunch of fantastic teacher guiding her.
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firefly38:
Good point.
Yes, one of my DS1's classmates dropped out of GEP at the end of P4.. He did not go back to his former primary school or transfer to mainstream in his GEP primary school. Instead, he chose to join another new primary school to do his P5 & P6 (mainstream), perhaps to start everything on a clean slate..
My DS1 met him again at RI this year (Sec-1)..
So, GEP or mainstream, as long as one is willing to work hard, one can still do well in PSLE and go to one's dream school.. :celebrate:
GEP or not, still possible to go RI
Go RI or not, still possible to go Uni,
Go Uni or not, still possible to do well in life.
The sum does not add up when it comes to children development One plus one need not equal two. Sometime get 1.5,2 or 3. If your kid is smart, he will blossom anywhere sooner or later. I feel that most important is confidence and wisdom. Some kid, very smart but no confidence, no courage to try because they always get A, and afraid if they try they cannot meet others expectation of them getting A. This is one very bad effect that GEP can do to a kid and also gives them tremendous stress. -
Perhaps MOE should regulate the tuition and enrichment schools. After all they are the shadow teachers for MOE teachers. It will be opening a pandora’s box but we all know that this shadow education system is going to stay forever.
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I wasn’t suprised that the newspaper played a huge part in contributing to his high profile success. He was featured in the newspapers a few time and whatever he said, it was published without any question. He wouldn’t have landed himself in this hot soup if he hasn’t over step his confidence that the Education Ministry wouldn’t rebut his claims. Reminds me of Durai from the NKF. Now that the truth is finally out, I am sure alot of parents are angry with him, after paying all those high tuition fees. This explains why, taking a leaf from my old bad experiences, that I am always a staunch propagandist to parents to personally check on the credentials of the tutors who will be coaching their children. If any tuition agencies or centre act sheepishly and suggested otherwise, you will know something is fishy lurking underneath. Good tutors are like GEMS. When you are lucky to have one, make sure you don’t give them away. They are usually booked months ahead.
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worrisome_dad:
I wasn't suprised that the newspaper played a huge part in contributing to his high profile success. He was featured in the newspapers a few time and whatever he said, it was published without any question. He wouldn't have landed himself in this hot soup if he hasn't over step his confidence that the Education Ministry wouldn't rebut his claims. Reminds me of Durai from the NKF. Now that the truth is finally out, I am sure alot of parents are angry with him, after paying all those high tuition fees. This explains why, taking a leaf from my old bad experiences, that I am always a staunch propagandist to parents to personally check on the credentials of the tutors who will be coaching their children. If any tuition agencies or centre act sheepishly and suggested otherwise, you will know something is fishy lurking underneath. Good tutors are like GEMS. When you are lucky to have one, make sure you don't give them away. They are usually booked months ahead.
liddat newspaper also at fault for not verifying their reporting . :spank:
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