All About GEP
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MMM:
No worries... For me learning is a continuous process regardless of our age... If we do not learn new things/skills... We would be regressing because requirements are not stagnant thus possibility of being made redundant.Just something to share, when I did my part time degree, there was at least 2 guys in the room who are 50 yrs & above. All very established in their career : ) But yes, it's not easy and a huge challenge.
Next year, my co can sponsor me for MBA but I am still having thots if I really want to do that. It's like I could have use that time to guide my own kids in their studies esp with 2 in pri school..... Sometimes it's a personal choice and knowing what you want and what works best.
I do not preclude the possibility of pursuing tertiary qualifications later... Just thot that the professional papers would give me more mileage at the moment
... My next class starts from Sep 08 till Mar 09 
So to go back to the main topic... I wont be overly particular abt my son's grades when he is schooling... I'll probably follow CKS and let my son decide (part of empowerment) should he be nominated to try for the GEP. Because the journey/learning process is continuous... As long as he continues to keep learning new things/skills... I'm sure he'll be successful
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ZacK:
should he be nominated to try for the GEP.
Is GEP test based on nomination? i have the impression that all kids will be given a chance to opt for taking or not taking. can anyone confim?[/i] cos everyone i know with a P3 kid all taking exam on 23 aug. -
ks2me:
Oops... I stand corrected on the nomination... I simply assumed it to be so. However unlikely that all kids will be given a chance to take the GEP testing IMO.ZacK:
should he be nominated to try for the GEP.
Is GEP test based on nomination? i have the impression that all kids will be given a chance to opt for taking or not taking. can anyone confim?[/i] cos everyone i know with a P3 kid all taking exam on 23 aug. -
ZacK:
Hmmm if that is your definition... Then my wife will never have a \"bright future\"!!! :oops: :P[/quote]I think there are many definitions of a bright future. It all depends on what happiness means to a person.
Getting a good hubby who can earn enough so that you can have the luxury to stay at home, is also a very bright future :lol:tamarind:
[quote=\"jedamum\"]
I was a top student. And now I'm a sahm. Is that a bright future?
Being an SAHM is happiness for many women. These mommies are willing to give up their financial freedom to stay at home to look after their kids. To them, watching their kids grow up is happiness.
Of course there are also many women who are happy to work full time, and have someone else look after their kids for them, so that they can continue to enjoy the financial freedom. Then there are also many mommies who have no choice but to work to help support the family. -
Hi
I was one those students who excel in sports & oratorical competition when I was in primary school. I remembered that I feel good about winning. But reality comes quickly when I was pushed to compete between schools. At a young age, I realized that there are others better than me. At that time, I was not sad for not being able to do as well. The experience humbles me & makes me fine tune what I am lacking.
Back to the subject of GEP, I think it is good for the kids to take especially for those who are bright. We as parents should be there to provide guidance and support when our kids fall. -
Hi
A side track here a bit. Iām not sure how many parents born on year 71 or 72 were requested to sit for Math & English paper when they were P3. I remember at that time the teacher assured us that it was not an exam nor was it a test paper. We were informed that the papers were to select students who are good to compete in competition. Funny thing though, I accidentally chance upon my primary school report book yesterday. I saw in the "personal particular" section on my report book a note written on the page stating 78/79/GEP followed by a series of numbers just below it.
GEP was not implemented then. But I am curious how many parents born in the year of 71 or 72 have to sit for such papers when they were P3 & how many has similar reference stated in their primary school report book. -
[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]
Hi, I am a newbie here. My daughter has been selected to take the Screening Test for GEP. We would like to find out from other experienced parents how their children cope with GEP before deciding if she should take the test. Many thanks. -
Hi NJmom,
Let your girl goes through the 2nd round first, you can make your decision after she is being selected for the GEP. -
NJmom:
Hi, I am a newbie here. My daughter has been selected to take the Screening Test for GEP. We would like to find out from other experienced parents how their children cope with GEP before deciding if she should take the test. Many thanks.
Anyone at P3 can take the screening test for GEP. The top 6% (previously 3000, this year 4000) will be invited to take the selection test. Among them, only the top 1% (around 500 plus) will qualify for the GEP programme.
I have one child who successfully cleared both rounds and one who was among the top 3000 but not the top 500. Both of them did not receive any preparation at all. Both took the tests without any expectation or pressure. I do not believe in preparing the child for it. If one is gifted, he will be challenged and happy in the programme. If you get in through rigorous preparation courses (i heard available nowadays), you will suffer and be miserable throughout the 3 years. What's more, the curriculum is so intense you may find difficulty coping and may not do well in P6 when you join the mainstream in taking the PSLE. Believe me, unlike what most parents thought, the GEP curriculum is NOT STUDYING IN ADVANCE. It's about breadth & depth. Most of what you learn is not to prepare for PSLE. That is why a GEP student may not necessarily do as well as the mainstream in PSLE. They are so occupied with projects and assignments (not related to PSLE preparation) that they have very much lesser time for their PSLE. I believe the 'assumption' supporting the programme is \"if you are really a gifted learner, you will still be able to cope and do well\".
Therefore, I am strongly against 'preparing' a child for the GEP selection test. Why not let nature takes its course? A child's learning journey is a long one that stretches 12 to 18 years. Why take the chance that he may be burnt out at the initial stretch of the journey?
The above is just my opinion. -
Hi NJmom,
Congratulations to your child being selected for the selection test! Which means your dd is among the top 4000 P3 student in Singapore. That's some recognition!
So far from what I have found out, the GEP programme are a course designed to cater for a different group of students, for those intellectually gifted kids. Thus, the learning concepts and assumptions are completely different from our main stream. There will be alot of research work and like what fairy has mentioned in her post, there's more breadth & depth. They have more opportunity for presentation work too. It is also true that they only prepared the kids in P6 for the PSLE. That's the reason why not all GEP kids are high scorer for PSLE. I have read some very good review from parents who have kids in the programme, and most of their kids are enjoying the course. One of the story I have read, this kid was so happy that she need not 'fight' to stay at high position in order to get into the TOP class for the following years till P6. There's no position grading in GEP classes.
I would suggest you to let your dd sit for the selection test. Once she is selected (the result will be out on early Nov), there will be a briefing session on 6th of Nov (as stated in the GEP webpage), there and then you can clear more of your doubts on GEP programme and make a decision together with your dd if she is willing to take up the challenge.
Good luck!
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