Gifted Education Programme (Singapore)

The Gifted Education Programme was first implemented in Singapore in 1984 amid some public concern. It was initiated by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in line with its policy under the New Education System to allow each student to learn at his/her own pace. The MOE has a commitment to ensure that the potential of each pupil is recognised, nurtured and developed. It was recognised that intellectually gifted pupils should be given apter classes to reach their full potential. From its inauguration in two primary schools and two secondary schools, the programme has now expanded to nine primary schools (as of October 2004) and was at its peak before the introduction of the Integrated Programme (IP).

As of 2020, nine primary schools offer GEP.[1]

• Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)
• Catholic High School (Primary)
• Henry Park Primary School
• Nan Hua Primary School
• Nanyang Primary School
• Raffles Girls' Primary School
• Rosyth School
• Saint Hilda's Primary School
• Tao Nan School

At Primary Three (P3), all students, except those who opt-out, will take the first round of admission tests, the Screening Test. About 10% of students identified based on the Screening Test results will be invited to participate in the second round, the Selection Test. Based on the Selection Test results, the top 1% of the cohort will be identified and invited to join the Gifted Education Programme, usually by November of that year.

English and Mathematics papers are included as part of the Screening Test, while another two papers, General Ability I and General Ability II, are included in the Selection Test.

Before 2003, there was a third round of testing to allow entry for pupils who missed the chance in P3, after the PSLE. This last round of testing was offered to students who achieved 3 or more A*s for the PSLE. Students who enrolled at this stage were referred to as Supplementary Intake students. However, this practice was discontinued in 2003. The IP schools and the new NUS High School, specialising in Mathematics and Science, opened up opportunities for more pupils who were not already part of the primary school GEP, thus, there were ample opportunities to join these schools and therefore no need for a supplementary exercise to select students for the GEP at secondary schools.[3]

The pupils will have to study in this programme from Primary 4 to 6, and after that, the pupils can choose to continue studying in the programme only, in the Integrated Programme, or in the mainstream (not the GEP). Students also have a variety of top secondary schools to choose from depending on their PSLE results. Once the school is chosen, they will automatically enter the Express stream unless they choose otherwise.

Research Project Studies (RPS) starting in Primary 4, is a program to teach skills needed in research. Individualized Study Options (ISO) is a compulsory programme for pupils in Primary 5, wherein pupils do research on a specific topic. The students are asked to choose their own projects in Primary Five under Teacher Mentors. The student-teacher ratio is normally from 4:1 to 5:1. The Study Options given were:

• Individualized Research Studies (IRS) → research and present your findings
• InnoVation Programme (IvP, formerly IP) → students invent or improve things to solve everyday problems
• Future Problem Solving ( FPS) → Students solve future problems we may face in society

Pupils in the GEP have to take Social Studies as a graded subject. Based on the mainstream textbook syllabus, students will have to study in-depth content. Lessons in the GEP are conducted with no textbooks or workbooks, with the exception of Chinese and Higher Chinese; lessons are more discussion, worksheet, and project oriented.

Pupils in GEP learn poetry and literature (A Single Shard in Primary 4, The Giver in Primary 5,[4] and Friedrich in Primary 6) as part of the Concept Unit under the English Language subject.

A Wrinkle in Time was used as the literature book for Primary 5 students until 2014 when it was replaced with The Giver. The main purpose is to show students how a dystopian society functions.

For English, students have to do different process writings based on the genres they have studied, including mysteries and fairy tales.

In Primary 6, a graded Mathematics Alternative Assessment (Math AA) is given. The pupils will have to choose from six or seven projects that GEP branch officers in the Ministry of Education (MOE) create. These projects are individual and include research, a product to be made and reflections. They will also be required to do a biography unit, of which one is an oral assignment, with the latter a written assignment.

In an article in The Straits Times on 3 November 2007, the MOE announced its new scheme to "encourage" greater integration between GEP and mainstream students, to combat elitism and encourage socialisation. GEP students in the nine primary GEP centres would spend up to 50% of their lesson time with the top 2% to 5% of the cohort, or the top mainstream students. Non-core subjects such as art, music, and physical education are conducted with the mainstream cohort. The announcement of the integration provoked much buzz on the blogosphere.

• Ministry of Education Gifted Education Programme Website
• Gifted kids to take 'integrated' path