ACE Flowers for Algernon (Assignment 1)

Linguistic: There are diverse views and possibly some misunderstandings on Gifted Education in Singapore. Conduct a research and write a letter to the Editor of Straits Times, expressing your point of view on gifted education. Cite your sources. It should be no less than 400 words.


Mr Yeo Kang Le
Blk 142 Lorong ah Soo
#11-255
Singapore 530142

27 January 2009

Editor of The Straits Times
Singapore Press Holdings
1000 Toa Payoh North
News Centre
Singapore 318994

Dear Editor:

Re: Views on the gifted education in Singapore

I am writing to express my views on the gifted education in Singapore. The GEP is definitely a conducive and proven programme which assists and aids "gifted" pupils in soaring to greater heights. This is a fact that has to be agreed on. The GEP pupils are educated on skills that are taught in higher levels of education which is very useful when they leave their primary school. Besides that, the pupils also have numerous projects and reprts to research on, which is a requisite in higher levels of education. Thus, it is encouraging to see that the pupils are given a chance to experience and get used to higher levels of education compared to other fellow primary school mates who do not get that chance.

However, I have noticed that a handful of GEP students are arrogrant, bashful and look down on the "mainstream" pupils (pupils not in the gifted programme). Some are to the extent of not willing to mix and interact with the "mainstream" pupils. I am alarmed and dismayed at the rate things are going with the GEP. I am sure some pupils from the GEP will lead or govern this country in the near future. In that case, they will have to converse and interact with people from all walks of life, including those from humble familys and the less fortunate example people who are mentally or physically challenged. If the GEP students are presently not willing to interact with people who are not in the "mainstream", I personally do not see how they can attain the art or even the basic requisite skills of conversing with fellow singapore citizens, let alone foreigners or Permenant Residents as Singapore is a cosmopolitan city. This a point I would like to voice out about the GEP.

In my opinion, I would humbly propose that the Ministry of Education look into inculcating thoughts and ideas to be shared with the "mainstream" pupils and urging them to participate zealously in CIP (Central Involvement Programme) activities and not concentrate solely on their accademic achievements. By doing so, the GEP pupils will be more exposed, less bashful and not have a "us-vs-them" thinking or mindset. This will also help blend the "mainstream" pupils and the GEP pupils together for the mutual understanding of both streams. Besides that, the Ministry could also hold additional workshops to expose the GEP students with good morals and values a leader should attain in order to work in a harmonious and progressive manner. I am positive that if such actions are taken, the GEP pupils will be more widely accepted and less criticised by the public.

I look foward to seeing changes in the GEP and sincerely hope that the MOE ( Ministry of Education) would consider my humble suggestions.

Yours faithfully,

Yeo Kang Le


Sources: http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/164520 (SG forums)