"GIFTED CHILDREN'S PROJECT" (Progress report)

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi: To ask the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education if he will report on the progress of implementation of the "Gifted Project" and state what representations or reservations have been expressed to the Ministry concerning the project and from whom; and what solutions or modifications will be made by the Ministry in view of such representations or reservations.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi.

Encik Othman bin Haron Eusofe (Geylang Serai): Question No. 5, Sir.

Dr Tay Eng Soon (for the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the selection examinations at both Primary 3 and Primary 6 levels have been successfully carried out. One hundred Primary 3 pupils have been selected. Offers have been made to the parents of these children for them to join the gifted education programme.

The results of the Primary 6 selection examination are being processed now. Pupils who have been selected for this programme will be informed sometime during this week. The schools involved are ready for the programme. The 30 teachers for the gifted classes have been selected and will undergo an induction course with our consultant, Dr Phua Swee Liang, towards the end of December.

Teaching activities for the gifted programme have been worked out by the project team. The team members, together with the project consultant, will be working very closely with the teachers in the implementation of the programme.

Concerning representations and reservations expressed, these have come mainly from parents whose children are involved in the project. The main concern of many of the parents of the selected Primary 3 pupils was the distance of Rosyth and Raffles Girls Primary Schools from their homes and the difficulty in arranging for transport for their children. The pupils come from all over Singapore, ranging from Woodlands, Pasir Ris and Jurong. However, since this is a pilot project and the number of pupils involved is small, it is not possible to have more than two schools involved at this stage. The Ministry is arranging chartered buses for these children.

Some parents also expressed concern about the possible harmful effects of the programme on their children. This may arise if the children are given too much to do or if they are over-pressured by their own parents. Another fear was that the children might become arrogant. These concerns have arisen in gifted programmes in other countries, With proper curriculum, teaching methods and close cooperation between teachers and parents, they can be overcome.

Some parents have asked how teachers are selected and trained. There are, in fact, very few formal courses anywhere on teaching the gifted. The teachers will be working very closely with the project team and the project consultants. This is the approach used in other countries, such as Israel. The teachers have been selected on the basis of their teaching ability and their commitment to the programme.