The Gifted Education Programme (GEP) is an academic programme in
Singapore
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
, initially designed to identify the top 0.25% (later expanded to 0.5%, then 1%) of students from each academic year with outstanding intelligence. The tests are based on verbal, mathematical and spatial abilities (as determined by
two rounds of tests). Selected students will then be transferred to schools offering the GEP. GEP classes are designed to fit the students' learning ability, and may cover subjects in greater breadth and depth. The curriculum is designed by the Gifted Education Branch and eschews the use of textbooks for notes that have been prepared by GEP teachers. The programme has now been expanded to 1% of the students from each academic year.
History
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
The Integrated Programme (IP) is a scheme that allows high-performing students in secondary schools in Singapore to skip the GCE Ordinary Level (O-Level) examination (typically taken by students at the end of their fourth or fifth year in secon ...
(IP).
In 2024, Prime Minister
Lawrence Wong
Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai. In this Chinese name, the Chinese surname, family name is Huang (surname), Wong. In accordance with custom, the Western-style name is Lawrence Wong and the Chinese-style name is Wong Shyun Tsai. (born 18 December 197 ...
announced that the GEP will be discontinued in its present form and will be replaced by a school-based programme in which all primary schools will set aside resources to identify their high-ability students and stretch them academically. These changes will take effect starting with the Primary One cohort of 2024. Further details will be announced by Education Minister
Chan Chun Sing
Chan Chun Sing ( zh, s=陈振声, p=Chén Zhènshēng, j=Can4 Zan3 Sing1, first=j; born 9 October 1969) is a Singaporean politician and former major-general who is serving as Minister for Defence in 2025 and Minister-in-charge of Public Serv ...
at a later date.
Primary Schools offering GEP
As of 2020, nine primary schools offer GEP.
*
Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)
This is a list of primary schools in Singapore. Children typically start their primary education in the year they turn seven. Primary education lasts six years, and is compulsory for all Singapore citizens.
Primary schools in Singapore are eithe ...
*
Catholic High School (Primary)
*
Henry Park Primary School
*
Nan Hua Primary School
*
Nanyang Primary School
This is a list of primary schools in Singapore. Children typically start their primary education in the year they turn seven. Primary education lasts six years, and is compulsory for all Singapore citizens.
Primary schools in Singapore are eithe ...
*
Raffles Girls' Primary School
*
Rosyth School
*
Saint Hilda's Primary School
*
Tao Nan School
Impact of the Integrated Programme
In 2004, five secondary schools started implementing Integrated Programmes with their affiliated
Junior College
A junior college is a type of post-secondary institution that offers vocational and academic training that is designed to prepare students for either skilled trades and technical occupations or support roles in professions such as engineering, a ...
s, and are officially no longer offering the GEP. However, they still have programmes within their respective Integrated Programmes to cater to gifted students. While the secondary schools that have implemented the Integrated Programme remain generally unaffected by the change,
Victoria School, which continued to offer the GEP, saw a drastic decrease in enrolment.
Secondary Schools that are offering GEP, or SBGE
The Gifted Education Programme came to a close in secondary schools in 2008 and was replaced by the School-Based Gifted Education (SBGE) programme.
All of the secondary schools that offer the SBGE are IP schools. There are generally two classes per cohort/year/level for SBGE students, but sometimes there may only be one class per cohort, depending on the cohort size.
*
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (ACS(I)) is an independent Methodism, Methodist secondary school in Dover, Singapore. Founded in 1886 by Reverend William Fitzjames Oldham, it was recognised as an International Baccalaureate World School in 20 ...
*
Dunman High School
*
Hwa Chong Institution
Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) is an independent Secondary school, secondary educational institution in Bukit Timah, Central Region, Singapore, Central Region, Singapore. It was established in 2005 by the merger of The Chinese High School (Singapor ...
*
Nanyang Girls' High School
*
NUS High School of Mathematics and Science
*
Raffles Girls School (Secondary)
*
Raffles Institution
Raffles Institution (RI) is an independent educational institution in Singapore. Founded in 1823, it is the oldest school in the country. It provides secondary education for boys only from Year 1 to Year 4, and pre-university education for both b ...
Beginning in 2006, the MOE started to phase out the secondary school GEP due to the impact of the IP. However, GEP pupils who do not wish to take up the Integrated Programme after 2008 can enroll in schools with school-based special programmes at Secondary One. Examples of such schools are
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (ACS(I)) is an independent Methodism, Methodist secondary school in Dover, Singapore. Founded in 1886 by Reverend William Fitzjames Oldham, it was recognised as an International Baccalaureate World School in 20 ...
,
Catholic High School
Catholic schools are parochial pre-primary, primary and secondary educational institutions administered in association with the Catholic Church. , the Catholic Church operates the world's largest religious, non-governmental school system. In 201 ...
,
Methodist Girls' School
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...
and
St. Joseph's Institution
St. Joseph's Institution (SJI) is an independent Catholic educational institution in Singapore. Founded in 1852 by the De La Salle Brothers, it is the first Catholic school and the third oldest school in the country.
SJI has been offering a dual ...
.
Selection Process
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
Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...
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.
Progress in the Programme
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.
Distinction
''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
''The Giver'' is a 1993 young adult dystopian novel written by American author Lois Lowry and is set in a society which at first appears to be utopian but is revealed to be dystopian as the story progresses. In the novel, the society has take ...
'' in Primary 5, and ''
Friedrich'' in Primary 6) as part of the ''Concept Unit'' under the English Language subject.
''
A Wrinkle in Time
''A Wrinkle in Time'' is a young adult science fantasy novel written by American author Madeleine L'Engle. First published in 1962, the book won the Newbery Medal, the Sequoyah Book Award and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, and was runner-u ...
'' was used as the literature book for Primary 5 students until 2014 when it was replaced with ''
The Giver
''The Giver'' is a 1993 young adult dystopian novel written by American author Lois Lowry and is set in a society which at first appears to be utopian but is revealed to be dystopian as the story progresses. In the novel, the society has take ...
''. 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.
Integration with mainstream
In an article in
The Straits Times
''The Straits Times'' (also known informally by its abbreviation ''ST'') is a Singaporean daily English-language newspaper owned by the SPH Media Trust. Established on 15 July 1845, it is the most-widely circulated newspaper in the country and ...
on 3 November 2007, the MOE announced its new scheme to "encourage" greater integration between GEP and mainstream students, to combat
elitism
Elitism is the notion that individuals who form an elite — a select group with desirable qualities such as intellect, wealth, power, physical attractiveness, notability, special skills, experience, lineage — are more likely to be construc ...
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 in the
blogosphere
The blogosphere is made up of all blogs and their interconnections. The term implies that blogs exist together as a connected community (or as a collection of connected communities) or as a social networking service in which everyday authors can pu ...
.
References
External links
Ministry of Education Gifted Education Programme Website
{{Gifted Programs
Gifted education
Education in Singapore
Singapore government policies