{"id":33395,"date":"2026-03-04T10:54:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T02:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=33395"},"modified":"2026-03-04T10:54:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T02:54:36","slug":"post-gep-high-ability-pupils-to-attend-advanced-modules-outside-school-identified-using-new-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=33395","title":{"rendered":"Post-GEP: High-ability pupils to attend advanced modules outside school, identified using new test"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013<!-- --> From 2027, primary school pupils with high academic <!-- -->potential<!-- --> can attend advanced classes at 15 designated centres across the country, following the recent discontinuation of the Gifted Education Programme (GEP). <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Announcing this on March 3 during the debate on his ministry\u2019s budget, Education Minister Desmond Lee<i> <\/i>said that these centres will be located within primary schools selected for their \u201cgood geographic spread\u201d and accessibility by public transport. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The centres will offer weekly after-school advanced modules for English, mathematics and science, while interdisciplinary modules will be conducted during the school holidays. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The modules will be taught by 20 specially deployed teachers from the Ministry of Education\u2019s (MOE) headquarters, including former GEP teachers who do not belong to the primary schools the centres are based in. More teachers will be deployed as more pupils join the programme.<!-- -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The 15 centres will be located in schools such as Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School, Pioneer Primary School and Yu Neng Primary School.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The<!-- --> <!-- -->centre locations will be periodically reviewed, said Mr Lee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/ndr-2024-gifted-education-programme-to-be-updated-all-primary-schools-to-stretch-high-ability-pupils?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced in August 2024<\/p>\n<p><\/a> that the GEP in its current form \u2013 where selected pupils transfer to nine specific primary schools \u2013 would be replaced<!-- --> <!-- -->by school-based provisions to stretch pupils with higher abilities across all primary schools. <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Advanced modules for high-ability pupils at 15 centres as Singapore discontinues GEP\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Xs-E2ZAkEB8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">With the latest introduction of advanced modules, at least<!-- --> <!-- -->2 per cent of primary school pupils will benefit from the new arrangement, up from the top 1 per cent under the former GEP, said Mr Lee. This is because the modules cater to those with strengths in specific <!-- -->domains<!-- -->, whereas the GEP-selected pupils were strong across several subject areas<!-- -->.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The curricula for these modules will also be delinked from the national curriculum,<!-- --> <!-- -->and are not intended to replicate the GEP curriculum, said MOE. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A trial of these modules was conducted <!-- -->in 2025<!-- --> and was well received,<!-- --> <!-- -->said Mr Lee. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">To qualify for the modules, pupils will be assessed under a new one-stage identification exercise, with those in Primary 3 in 2026 being the first batch to undergo this in August. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cRather than having a single entry point at P4, students can also join at the end of each semester at P4 and 5, making it more porous,\u201d said Mr Lee.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Selected pupils will be able to take<!-- --> <!-- -->school-based provisions, referring to enrichment classes held in their own schools, the weekly centre-based advanced modules, or both, based on their subject strengths. <\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base none\" title=\"dynamic_iframe_wrapper\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/gjZKC\/5\/\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;undefinedclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Lee said: \u201cTo be clear, these modules are not intended to give students a leg-up in examinations. Rather, they are designed to further cultivate curiosity, creativity and critical thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">MOE said the identification test focuses on English and mathematics aptitude rather than school-based curriculum content, and will not be the only yardstick used to assess students.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cWe are looking for attributes like creativity, interest and talent in these academic domains,\u201d the ministry said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Schools can also identify pupils using teachers\u2019 observations and pupils\u2019 schoolwork, with guidance from MOE.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio GRC) had suggested conducting after-school enrichment at \u201cnon-branded\u201d neighbourhood schools instead of concentrating it in a few prestigious schools.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This approach will expose pupils to diverse backgrounds while allowing local schools to build distinct reputations for nurturing talent, said Mr David, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The modules \u2013 which could be in areas like financial literacy, literature and journalism \u2013 should \u201cbroaden and deepen engagement with subjects in ways the standard curriculum cannot, fostering curiosity, creativity and applied thinking,\u201d he added. <!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThe aim of this new model should not be to separate students by ability, but to cultivate diverse strengths in every learner.\u201d <!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The new centre-based advanced modules come on top of existing school-based provisions for learners with academic strengths and talents within every primary school. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">From 2027, these school-based programmes will take in 10 per cent of all primary school pupils \u2013 about 3,000 each year, up from 7 per cent now.<!-- -->  <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Almost all primary schools have at least five teachers trained to teach pupils in such programmes, said Mr Lee, and more will be provided if needed.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Together, these school-based provisions and centre-based advanced modules will replace the GEP \u2013 whose last batch will be the Primary 6 cohort in 2028 \u2013 as the new standard of support for pupils with academic strengths and talents. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cStudents can choose whether to attend based on their interests, holistic development and schedules,\u201d said MOE, adding that neither programme is mandatory.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Pupils may also join<!-- --> <!-- -->both programmes. This allows for a tailored approach where, for example, a pupil might attend school-based English lessons while taking advanced modules in mathematics. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Those who qualify for interdisciplinary modules will be guided to make connections across subjects and contexts, and apply their learning to problems.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">One example cited by Mr Lee is a module on playgrounds which integrates social studies, science and mathematics, to tackle challenges in designing playgrounds.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThis allows students to explore new ideas and topics\u00a0beyond traditional classroom boundaries without curriculum time constraints or assessment pressures,\u201d MOE said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The ministry added: \u201cWe are trying to also move away from labelling students<!-- -->&#8230;<!-- --> to really seeing that every student has their own strengths and potential, and we want to develop them to the best that we can.\u201d <\/p>\n<figure class=\"portrait inline-media-wrapper\" style=\"--aspect-article-portrait:1080 \/ 1350\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/6518ac757d12a6f99b644998e5822c6d45c03773066d00bd8634175c078cd91d?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/6518ac757d12a6f99b644998e5822c6d45c03773066d00bd8634175c078cd91d?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/6518ac757d12a6f99b644998e5822c6d45c03773066d00bd8634175c078cd91d?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/6518ac757d12a6f99b644998e5822c6d45c03773066d00bd8634175c078cd91d\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Even with the changes made to Primary 1 admissions, like reserving up to 40 places in schools for pupils with no connection to the school,<!-- --> <!-- -->some schools continue to be \u201cover-represented by students from higher-SES families\u201d, said Mr Lee. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He was referring to families with higher socio-economic status, characterised by higher income, education and occupational status.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cSome of these schools are located in neighbourhoods that comprise mostly private housing, with fewer Housing Board flats,\u201d he said. \u201cIf the school is popular with parents, it might be filled first by those living nearest in private housing, because of the home-school distance priority.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Lee added: \u201cSchools cannot just passively reflect the neighbourhoods around them, but they must also actively create diverse environments for our students to mix and mingle, and to learn from one another.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He was responding to suggestions and concerns raised by various MPs about priority phases in the Primary 1 registration process as well as the \u201cunfair advantages\u201d enjoyed by those who can afford to buy or rent property near their preferred schools.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Lee said the ministry will consider all suggestions, but a balance has to be struck between competing views and needs. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThere are a finite number of places in each school, and every change would affect different groups in different ways,\u201d he said, assuring the House that MOE will review the framework to ensure primary schools remain open to pupils from different backgrounds. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/post-gep-high-ability-pupils-to-attend-advanced-modules-outside-school-identified-using-new-test\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 From 2027, primary school pupils with high academic potential can attend advanced classes at 15 designated centres across the country, following the recent&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33397,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=33395"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33395\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/33397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=33395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=33395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=33395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}