DSA 2011
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Hi Blur Dad
I can really emphatise with you
Being a father of 2 GEP kids who had gone thru the GEP Programmes and DSA in the past couple of years, I feel that there’s a lack of understanding of GEP programme and why DSA is a necessary & important path for GEP kids.
Let me put it this way.
I do not think my 2 kids who went through GEP programme necessarily any more intelligent nor any more deserving to go to the TOP IP schools than the kids from mainstream. The only difference is that for some reason ( which till today I also do not fully understand ) they were somehow selected for the GEP programme…
DSA to GEP kids is not and should never be an entitlement, but I would dare say that DSA to GEP kids is a very very important lifeline.
Why?
The GEP programme is like a Decathlon Training & Exposure Programme ( 10 events - long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1500m )
Whilst the PSLE is a Nationwide 400m race …
So whilst the mainstream kids are prepared in a very focused manner for the 400m race ( PSLE ) from as early as P4 all the way to P6. The GEP kids are instead being focused on being ‘exposed’ to all the different Decathlon events.
I know my kids’ GEP teachers even constantly remind parents not to prepare their kids for PSLE but to support them and focus on allowing the kids to be exposed to as many things as possible, they assure us that they will start to seriously prepare our kids for PSLE from May/June of the PSLE year onwards… )
Imagine … A GEP kid not getting a DSA to any of the IP schools that offer School Based Gifted Programme & knowing that only in August/September of PSLE year… they wld then hv to intensively prepare for the Nationwide 400m race ( PSLE ) in a short few months in P6 against a whole cohort of excellent athletes ( equally if not more intelligent & academically inclined students in mainstream )
There are many GEP kids ( I would venture, say 10%? of 500 = abt 50? ) without any CO/WL from any of the TOP IP schools after the DSA exercise.
It’s also really not easy for them to really focus on preparing intensively for the PSLE ( when 90% of the classmates hv already gotten a DSA CO ). Put yrself in their shoes…. If I were them, I know I wld be really demoralised and find it difficult to ‘chiong’ when the other kids with DSA are not chionging to the same level. I know if I am a PSLE kid and I have a DSA CO, I wld not be chionging at the same level as I wld if I do not have a DSA CO, I am only human…. And I am an adult, what more a 12 yr old kid ??….
It’s also not easy for them to compete against the mainstreamers in the PSLE ( A kid trained for decathlon having to compete in a nationwide 400m race with less than half a year of focused intensive training in the event against a whole bunch of just as able/more able kids who have been trained for the 400m race over 2-3 years )
Many of the GEP kids who find themselves in such a situation wld ‘survive’ at the end of the day ( get to a desired IP school via PSLE )
But there are also those who do not manage to do so… ( but whom I believe they wld be able to do so if only they had been as prepared and focused on the PSLE over P4-P6 like kids in the mainstream … )
My heart really goes out to them …
So that is why I personally feel that DSA is really an important lifeline for GEP kids…. It is not their entitlement… but a real important lifeline…
My own personal 2cts worth … -
phankao:
Yes, that's what I mean.
think what phankao was saying is that \"discounted\" in terms of the absolute percentage figure.....Augmum:
[quote=\"phankao\"]
GEP always gets discounted entry criteria.
extracted fr DHS website
Students who attained 85% or higher score
(or 75% or higher score for Gifted Education Programme students) for average of P5 Overall and P6 Mid-Year Examination or its equivalent.
Afterall, they shouldn't just state an 85% there just like that. At least for GEPpers, the 75% is standardised, right? But for mainstream, some schools' 85% is not equal to other schools' 85%. So then, it's really not fair to those from more competitive schools whose exam standards are set rather high. So a student from that school with 80% might be at similar standard or even better than a student from a school with lower standard but with 85%.
In any case, can see they just want the GEPpers, lah[/quote]I agree that the figure of 85% for mainstreamers is not fair. But it's not correct to say that GEPpers get a discount bec it implies that GEPpers have it easier than mainstreamers because they get a 10% discount, and we all know that GEP exams are harder to score in than mainstream exams.
The school should just put down a criteria for GEPpers bec it's a standardised exam, and not put down a percentage for the mainstream. No one from my dd's school applied to DHS, with everyone gunning for RGS/NYGH. But distance also plays a part I suppose.
Given that a lot of parents have shared that hardly any GEPpers apply to DHS, I wonder how many actually end up there. -
vlim:
Big deal. My kids all \"common mainstreamers\". Want to throw stone then throw loh. Less \"commoners\" left then.
phankao..did you find the stones flying towards you..
... 
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DaddyDaddy:
Hi Blur Dad
I can really emphatise with you
Being a father of 2 GEP kids who had gone thru the GEP Programmes and DSA in the past couple of years, I feel that there's a lack of understanding of GEP programme and why DSA is a necessary & important path for GEP kids.
Let me put it this way.
I do not think my 2 kids who went through GEP programme necessarily any more intelligent nor any more deserving to go to the TOP IP schools than the kids from mainstream. The only difference is that for some reason ( which till today I also do not fully understand ) they were somehow selected for the GEP programme…
DSA to GEP kids is not and should never be an entitlement, but I would dare say that DSA to GEP kids is a very very important lifeline.
Why?
The GEP programme is like a Decathlon Training & Exposure Programme ( 10 events - long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1500m )
Whilst the PSLE is a Nationwide 400m race ...
So whilst the mainstream kids are prepared in a very focused manner for the 400m race ( PSLE ) from as early as P4 all the way to P6. The GEP kids are instead being focused on being ‘exposed’ to all the different Decathlon events.
I know my kids’ GEP teachers even constantly remind parents not to prepare their kids for PSLE but to support them and focus on allowing the kids to be exposed to as many things as possible, they assure us that they will start to seriously prepare our kids for PSLE from May/June of the PSLE year onwards... )
Imagine .. A GEP kid not getting a DSA to any of the IP schools that offer School Based Gifted Programme & knowing that only in August/September of PSLE year... they wld then hv to intensively prepare for the Nationwide 400m race ( PSLE ) in a short few months in P6 against a whole cohort of excellent athletes ( equally if not more intelligent & academically inclined students in mainstream )
There are many GEP kids ( I would venture, say 10%? of 500 = abt 50? ) without any CO/WL from any of the TOP IP schools after the DSA exercise.
It's also really not easy for them to really focus on preparing intensively for the PSLE ( when 90% of the classmates hv already gotten a DSA CO ). Put yrself in their shoes…. If I were them, I know I wld be really demoralised and find it difficult to ‘chiong’ when the other kids with DSA are not chionging to the same level. I know if I am a PSLE kid and I have a DSA CO, I wld not be chionging at the same level as I wld if I do not have a DSA CO, I am only human…. And I am an adult, what more a 12 yr old kid ??….
It's also not easy for them to compete against the mainstreamers in the PSLE ( A kid trained for decathlon having to compete in a nationwide 400m race with less than half a year of focused intensive training in the event against a whole bunch of just as able/more able kids who have been trained for the 400m race over 2-3 years )
Many of the GEP kids who find themselves in such a situation wld 'survive' at the end of the day ( get to a desired IP school via PSLE )
But there are also those who do not manage to do so... ( but whom I believe they wld be able to do so if only they had been as prepared and focused on the PSLE over P4-P6 like kids in the mainstream .. )
My heart really goes out to them ...
So that is why I personally feel that DSA is really an important lifeline for GEP kids…. It is not their entitlement… but a real important lifeline…
My own personal 2cts worth ...
Well said, DaddyDaddy. Your analogy on training for a decathlon vs a 400m sprint is especially apt. I think MOE's official figure is 80+% of GEPpers get DSA offers. Every year, I hear of people complaining that it's unfair that GEPpers have the advantage at DSA but if you know what the GEP programme involves, you'll understand it's not an advantage but a lifeline, as DaddyDaddy said.
edited to correct error -
Hi, has anyone received CO or rejection letter from NJC? Wondering if my dd has been rejected as there is nothing in the mail box…
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jtoh:
80+% of GEPpers do not get DSA offers? I thought it should be 80+% of GEPpers get DSA offers. If it is 80+% not getting DSA offers, the KS parents will push kids so hard to get into GEP!
Well said, DaddyDaddy. Your analogy on training for a decathlon vs a 400m sprint is especially apt. I think MOE's official figure is 80+% of GEPpers do not get DSA offers. Every year, I hear of people complaining that it's unfair that GEPpers have the advantage at DSA but if you know what the GEP programme involves, you'll understand it's not an advantage but a lifeline, as DaddyDaddy said. -
phankao:
Hi phankao ... It is meant to a joke I hope u don't take it seriously... And by the way my p3 dd is also common mainstreamer who need to take up tuitions for more then 2 subjects ... While happy for my ds able to secure CO, on the other hand also worry for my dd who did quite badly for this ca maths and science exams .....
Big deal. My kids all \"common mainstreamers\". Want to throw stone then throw loh. Less \"commoners\" left then.vlim:
phankao..did you find the stones flying towards you.. ...
Oki ... Last but not least wish all p6 children good luck for the coming psle and able to get to their dream school . -
DaddyDaddy:
Hi DaddyDaddyHi Blur Dad
I can really emphatise with you
Being a father of 2 GEP kids who had gone thru the GEP Programmes and DSA in the past couple of years, I feel that there's a lack of understanding of GEP programme and why DSA is a necessary & important path for GEP kids.
Let me put it this way.
I do not think my 2 kids who went through GEP programme necessarily any more intelligent nor any more deserving to go to the TOP IP schools than the kids from mainstream. The only difference is that for some reason ( which till today I also do not fully understand ) they were somehow selected for the GEP programme…
DSA to GEP kids is not and should never be an entitlement, but I would dare say that DSA to GEP kids is a very very important lifeline.
Why?
The GEP programme is like a Decathlon Training & Exposure Programme ( 10 events - long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1500m )
Whilst the PSLE is a Nationwide 400m race ...
So whilst the mainstream kids are prepared in a very focused manner for the 400m race ( PSLE ) from as early as P4 all the way to P6. The GEP kids are instead being focused on being ‘exposed’ to all the different Decathlon events.
I know my kids’ GEP teachers even constantly remind parents not to prepare their kids for PSLE but to support them and focus on allowing the kids to be exposed to as many things as possible, they assure us that they will start to seriously prepare our kids for PSLE from May/June of the PSLE year onwards... )
Imagine .. A GEP kid not getting a DSA to any of the IP schools that offer School Based Gifted Programme & knowing that only in August/September of PSLE year... they wld then hv to intensively prepare for the Nationwide 400m race ( PSLE ) in a short few months in P6 against a whole cohort of excellent athletes ( equally if not more intelligent & academically inclined students in mainstream )
There are many GEP kids ( I would venture, say 10%? of 500 = abt 50? ) without any CO/WL from any of the TOP IP schools after the DSA exercise.
It's also really not easy for them to really focus on preparing intensively for the PSLE ( when 90% of the classmates hv already gotten a DSA CO ). Put yrself in their shoes…. If I were them, I know I wld be really demoralised and find it difficult to ‘chiong’ when the other kids with DSA are not chionging to the same level. I know if I am a PSLE kid and I have a DSA CO, I wld not be chionging at the same level as I wld if I do not have a DSA CO, I am only human…. And I am an adult, what more a 12 yr old kid ??….
It's also not easy for them to compete against the mainstreamers in the PSLE ( A kid trained for decathlon having to compete in a nationwide 400m race with less than half a year of focused intensive training in the event against a whole bunch of just as able/more able kids who have been trained for the 400m race over 2-3 years )
Many of the GEP kids who find themselves in such a situation wld 'survive' at the end of the day ( get to a desired IP school via PSLE )
But there are also those who do not manage to do so... ( but whom I believe they wld be able to do so if only they had been as prepared and focused on the PSLE over P4-P6 like kids in the mainstream .. )
My heart really goes out to them ...
So that is why I personally feel that DSA is really an important lifeline for GEP kids…. It is not their entitlement… but a real important lifeline…
My own personal 2cts worth ...
Well said. So can I say that GEP programe need to be change seriously? E.g. all GEP students should study in a GEP special school from P4 till \"A\" Level, like NUSH which is specialize in Math and Science. So a GEP school for all GEP students...I guess this had brought up before.
I have heard that MOE who started DSA programe is not mainly for GEP or mainstreamer. There are some hidden agenda? Anyone know? -
Another point to note is whether is it essential for GEP kids to continue with SBGE in secondary school ?
Some of the IP non SGBE syllabus are something that they have done during the pri GE.
So they may get bored doing such things again.
So to continue with MOE recognised SBGE programme may be good for their development. -
vlim:
Hi phankao ... It is meant to a joke I hope u don't take it seriously... And by the way my p3 dd is also common mainstreamer who need to take up tuitions for more then 2 subjects ... While happy for my ds able to secure CO, on the other hand also worry for my dd who did quite badly for this ca maths and science exams ..... \\.[/quote]I know - bounce back another that's why! :evil: At least you only have to worry about that one. And at least your's willing to take tuition. Mine who needs help is not willing to accept help. Ah...hope he manages over 200 lah.
Big deal. My kids all \"common mainstreamers\". Want to throw stone then throw loh. Less \"commoners\" left then.phankao:
[quote=\"vlim\"]
phankao..did you find the stones flying towards you.. ...
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