Is your child happier in GEP school or his/her old school?

[baobei]

Would like to hear from parents whether your child enjoy himself or herself in the GEP school. Hopefully, you could share which school and what is in the school that make your child happy or unhappy. Thank you very much!

[Nebbermind]

with the labeling comes the expectation and also hostility from the mainstreamers for whatever reasons.

I think there’ll always be this suspicion the life would be much easier as a mainstreamer, which I doubt so coz many mainstreamers work even harder

[Dnls_mum]

Frankly I think it depends on the child. Some thrive in the environment while other crumble under the pressure and expectations Discuss with your child and let him/her have a part in the decision making.

[Just relax]

It really depends on the child’s aptitude. I think if the child has a fondness for reading and does read a lot then GEP which has a number of projects which require good language skills is interesting. You will also have children who are average in languages whether Eng or MT but are brilliant in Science or Maths and they will still cope and enjoy because they do get pushed in their favorite subjects and thus learn more and enjoy class.


GEP allows a child to go beyond the mainstream and that is what is important. The learning skills and exposure adds interest and challenge to children who otherwise find mainstream work boring. Such children need the extra challenge or different stimulus to grow and be happy with school.

So look at your own child, try to understand what suits him and what he wants and then give him that opportunity whether in GEP or mainstream.

[iRabbit]

Just saw this old thread. For my ds, he’s definitely happier in his GEP school though he took some time to call it his own.


Don’t get me wrong. He was happy in his old school (partly bcos he was blessed with good teachers). In GEP, the Math can be difficult and he simply loves those challenges.

[iRabbit]

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[Maple leaf]

DS is happier than before as he made more friends.


Er...seems like attending enrichment classes? Slightly more challenging and faster pace but manageable. Meaning can pass lah.

He is happy as he continue to play at his spare time whole-heartily as if he is still in kindergarten, and even when exams are coming. No stress from schoolwork.

He only get stressed when we nagged him and confiscate his toys while he was playing, and asked him to do revision.

[camleelaa]

DS did not change school when he got into GEP. He wasn’t unhappy in his old class, although he was bored most of the time. (He wasn’t never the top student either, although he was in the top 5-10%). In the GEP, he feels academically stretched by new ideas and teaching formats, and definitely some pressure in keeping pace with assignments and deadlines. But he is still happy!


I know someone else who had consistently been the top student in an all-girls’ school throughout lower primary levels, in fact making perfect scores for every test and exam. The first year in the GEP was indeed tough for her. Her parents had never told her that she might struggle with the GEP syllabus, and they did not take kindly to her scoring less than 95% in Primary Four. From having to accept sharply lower grades, to dealing with a co-ed classroom and outsized personalities, she had a difficult adjustment and her self-esteem took a blow. However she found her feet from the second year on, clawed back her academic standing, and grew to love her new school and new friends.

So the question whether a child is happier in GEP school cannot be fully answered at a single spot in time. The majority of children will adjust to the environment they are in, and may even rise up to new challenges. If they succeed, it is a valuable lesson in hard work and determination. I do not see any reason to shield my child from that struggle.

[wcc]

Didn’t change school, but definitely much much happier in GEP than she was in P1 to P3. Enjoyed the curriculum (though it came with a heavier workload and tougher exams)!

[maximum]

It was not easy at first. He cried the first day back from school. The work was so much more difficult and the new classmates could be unkind. We were surprised as we had selected a school for its values. But in the end we realised that trials and tribulations are blessings in disguise. One year later, he has made new friends and has been enjoying himself a lot more. Now we thank God we have made the right choice and know that he is where he is supposed to be.


The first year (P4) is the hardest. Stick with it and you will find it gets easier. It is said that P5 is the best year and P6, it is time to refocus on the test that will separate the wheat from the chaff.