New GEP For Primary Schools: All You Need To Know

After 40 years, the Gifted Education Programme (GEP), which caters to the top one per cent of primary school pupils, will be discontinued in its current form and replaced with an updated approach to benefit more children.

Starting with the Primary 1 cohort in 2024, about 10 per cent of pupils will benefit from school-based programmes for high-ability children, up from the current seven per cent.

All primary schools will be equipped to identify their own high-ability pupils and run programmes for them, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his first National Day Rally speech on Aug 18.

Why is the MOE changing the GEP, and how will the new system work? Here are the answers.

Q: Why is the GEP being changed?

A: The programme has produced good outcomes, said the MOE, citing the contributions of GEP alumni in fields such as public service, academia, the arts, entrepreneurship and technology.

Still, the ministry said that changes to the GEP are necessary to support a wider group of pupils, as some present strengths and potential over time rather than at a single point in Primary 3.

Rather than offer a uniform GEP curriculum in all areas, the refreshed version will provide greater customisation of learning for pupils who may be talented in one or two specific areas, such as mathematics or English language.

The new approach will also reduce the focus on the selection exercise. The MOE said it has observed in recent years that children are experiencing more stress at GEP selection, with more of them enrolling in private classes to prepare for the selection exercise.

Q: What are the key differences between the current GEP and the new system?

A: The final selection exercise for the GEP in its current form will be held for Primary 3 pupils in 2025.

The last intake of Primary 4 pupils into one of the nine primary schools that run the GEP will happen in 2026.

The nine schools are: Raffles Girls’ Primary School, Rosyth School, Anglo-Chinese School, Nanyang Primary School, Tao Nan School, Henry Park Primary School, Catholic High School (Primary), St Hilda’s Primary School and Nan Hua Primary School.

Currently, to qualify for the GEP, selected children sit two standardised tests in Primary 3 where they are first tested in English and mathematics, and then subsequently in their general abilities as well.

In the new system, children go through only the first stage of testing. This test will not be the only consideration for entry into the programmes, with day-to-day observations, teacher recommendations and daily work taken into account as well.

Under the new system, pupils will be able to join or leave these programmes at multiple points between Primary 4 and 6, rather than at a single point in Primary 4 after one standardised test, as is the case now.

Q: What will happen to the nine primary schools that currently offer the GEP? 

A: Pupils with higher abilities will no longer have to transfer to these schools. Like other primary schools, these schools will continue to support their higher-ability learners through their own programmes and identify pupils who would benefit from further development to attend after-school modules.

MOE will tap the expertise and experience of the nine schools in developing higher-ability learners under the new approach.

Q: Which schools will host the after-school modules?

A: The list of schools will be confirmed at a later juncture, said MOE, which will select the schools based on factors such as geographical spread to cater to pupils across the island.

To ensure geographical access, there will likely be more of these schools than the current nine primary schools that offer the GEP today.

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Q: Why are the modules held after school instead of during curriculum time?

A: The after-school modules are supplementary modules to further develop pupils in their areas of strength and interest, said MOE. They are not intended to replace regular curriculum.

Since pupils will attend classes with their classmates during school hours, these modules will be held after school. 

As pupils may need to attend co-curricular activities or other programmes, these after-school modules will be conducted about once a week for now.

If they are selected to attend after-school modules for more than one subject, pupils may go more than once a week, or complete different modules for various subjects in different semesters.

MOE is studying transportation options for pupils who attend the after-school modules at designated nearby schools and will provide more details at a later date.

Q: Would the GEP changes result in a loss of rigour? 

A: While the intensity of enrichment will be reduced, said MOE, higher-ability learners will be “adequately engaged and holistically developed” through school-based programmes. By remaining in their primary schools, there will be fewer disruptions to their learning environments and friendships.

With a focus on developing deep curiosity and creativity, the after-school modules will be rigorous and different from what pupils experience in the academic curriculum.

For example, a pupil who goes for a science after-school module may learn about the science and technology behind the food on their plate, carry out investigations and propose solutions for sustainable eating practices.

These will better support pupils’ intellectual and holistic development, said the MOE, adding that the intensity can also pick up at secondary level and beyond, where there are opportunities for further specialisation.

This article was originally published on The Straits Times.