COS 2012 Debates: MOE – Gifted Education Programme

by NCMP Yee Jenn Jong


Gifted education programme was implemented in 1984. Primary school GEP starts a child at primary 4 in one of 9 designated schools. Students are identified after nation-wide tests at primary 3.

Centralised secondary school GEP was scrapped in 2008 following low take-up, after the introduction of secondary schools’ IP.

I like MOE to consider scrapping centralised primary school GEP too. Currently, a nation-wide effort is required to identify just 1% of the cohort. With centralised GEP for secondary school scrapped, much resources are now spent on a small group of students in a programme that lasts only three years. Based on figures provided by MOE in a PQ last month, past 10 years’ performance of GEP students did not suggest that centralised GEP had generated better exam results at PSLE and at A levels.

We can continue differentiated learning to develop students with stronger learning abilities. In place of the current GEP, we can implement the following:

Encourage all schools to do their own subject-based accelerated learning.

Giftedness is often specific to subjects, as a child may be strong in one subject but average in others. Schools can have their own methods to identify students who are stronger in specific subjects and run accelerated learning for these students.

Further support can be given through the cluster system. Learning camps, workshops or talks involving special lecturers to challenge higher ability students can be organised by the cluster.

Schools can be supported by the GE Branch with learning resources distributed to them for use, or schools may prepare their own content. Selected teachers in all schools can be trained on how to guide students with stronger learning abilities.

We can spread accelerated learning across many schools. Parents not need transfer their child out to a gifted school at 9 years old. MOE wants to convince parents that every school is a good school. Separating gifted students into special schools undermines this message.

Retaining good students in their current schools provides better integration of children, so that students of all abilities can learn from one another in a natural and authentic environment. I hope MOE can consider this proposal.