In my opinion, taking chinese tuition is not considered hothousing because the children nowadays are increasingly speaking English at home instead. Furthermore, gep test on English and Math only. In my opinion - those who did not go for any tuition in English and Math and got selected should be able to handle the program. And if the selected child need to go for tuition in any of these two subjects after being selected should think twice if staying in the program is the best option for the child.

I think gep is similar to psle exam in that children are selected based on that particular test that they have taken on that particular day - a one test determine all kind of stuff. Hence, a lot of factors needed to be factored in too, e.g. state of the child on the day of test. And in my opinion, based on “a one test determined all”, some are correctly selected while some are not (I think no system is 100%.) Only the parents themselves will know whether the child is supposed to be in the program or not. I read in an article that parents will normally be the first to sense that their child is advanced for his/her age.
And whether chosen or not, it does not mean the child is more or less capable. If a child is not selected because he/she is one or two points away from the cut-off point, does it mean he/she is less capable? Be it gep or psle, to me, it just means the child is selected at that point in time when he/she took the test. But lots of things could happen after that. A selected child could become better or worse after joining the program. The unselected one could also become better or worse after not being selected.
I think gep is “hot” because of the limited vacancies and also, because the word gifted is used, lots of people think that the selected ones are the best (to me, some are really suitable for the program, some are not) Plus, a lot of people also think that the program stretches the mind etc etc. To me, I view it as just a program – a program offered in certain schools. I believe the program is interesting, I believed the program does stretch the mind. But, there are other programs that are interesting and stretches the mind too – most schools have HA class (from what I heard, some HA programs are very interesting too and they also made the child think deeper), some schools have the bicep class (from what I heard, need interview to get in) ….So, in my opinion, gep is not the only program. Just like in university, there are different programs offered, and depending on the child’s strength and interest, he/she should choose the program best suited for him/her. Most important, the child must be able to benefit from the program (whatever it is).
So, for me, I am happy for those who are selected regardless of whether they truly get in on their own or whether they are lucky on the day of the test or whether they are hot-housed in. And for those who think that their child should have been chosen as they have exhibited a lot of advance characteristics but yet not chosen, don’t despair, you know your child best, nurture them on your own And for those who did not get selected and think their child should not be selected in the first place, please continue to nurture your child because he/she may be a late bloomer.
Learning is a life-long process, the road is very very long, attitude is very very important. Whatever road we take and whether we think the road is a straight boring, winding longer, challenging rewarding is how we make the road to be. Straight boring, winding longer or challenging rewarding are individual perception. Everybody is entitled to their own definition of road, but I think most important is what we made them to be.
So for those who are selected, congratulations and enjoy the program For those who are not selected, congratulations too – something else as rewarding is waiting for you