Changes to GEP could open doors for more pupils, say parents, teachers

Children can also grow at their own pace without being separated from their friends

- Gabrielle Chan and Ng Wei Kai

For 12-year-old Faith Ng, being selected for a programme for high ability learners meant she was exposed at Primary 5 to English literature, a subject that she "quickly fell in love with".

She was one of six pupils who were pulled out of her English language class in 2023 to attend a literature programme conducted by her school, Fairfield Methodist School (Primary), said her mother, Mrs Ng-Ho Qian Wen.

Faith was reading Flora And Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, a children's novel by American author Kate DiCamillo, the study of which ignited a passion for the subject.

"I have never seen her so enthusiastic about English lessons," said Mrs Ng-Ho, a 38-year-old educator.

"She found her weekly English literature lessons fun and engaging as she was encouraged to do a critical analysis of the book... She enjoyed the in-depth study of the book and the insightful interaction that she was able to have with her peers." The changes to the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) will allow more children to have the experience that Faith, who is now in Primary 6, has had, she added.

On Aug 19, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that high-ability learner programmes like Faith's English literature classes would expand to take in 10 per cent of all primary school pupils which works out to about 3,000 each year - up from 7 per cent now.

Pupils who need further development could also take afterschool modules in specific subjects at designated schools nearby.