SINGAPORE: A popular tuition centre near my home charges S$ 1, 000 a month to prepare children for the Gifted Education Programme’s ( GEP ) maths syllabus.
If families are willing to pay S$ 12, 000 in tuition fees annually, the center has a great entrance charge to the GEP.
If a child were gifted, they would n’t need coaching to be admitted to the program, so it seems ironic to send them for GEP prep courses.
However, some Singaporean parents are diligent and aggressive in their pursuit of the best results for their children. Parents who have more resources can obtain tutors to assist their children in getting into the “best” programs.
It is no question that , fewer than half , of GEP kids live in HDB cottages, according to a written political comment by Education Minister Chan Chun Sing in 2022.
As a caregiver, I’m relieved that the , GEP is being phased out in its present form, and more importantly, replaced by a new model for high-ability individuals in , all , major universities.  ,
The GEP remodel represents a change in policy. Instead of just a tiny minority of individuals receiving taxpayer-funded resources, more students could benefit from them across all major schools.
The primary institutions ‘ fresh high-ability initiatives will enhance equality from “gifted” babies to “high-ability” children.  , About 10 per cent of the primary school cohort , will be selected for the high-ability schemes, up from the GE P’s present 1 per cent.