Quality Education Fund ThematicNetwork – Gifted Education

Singapore Educational Tour 2007

Quality Education Fund ThematicNetwork – Gifted Education

ItineraryDay 1 – visited some famous places in

SingaporeDay 2 – visited National Institute of

Education (NIE)Day 3 – visited Anglo-Chinese School

– Ministry of Education (MOE) – Shuqun Primary School

Day 4 – Back to Hong Kong

The GEP in SingaporeThe GEP in existence since 1984Centrally administrated by the GE Branch,

Ministry of EducationToday: 9 primary centres

• Primary 4-6Up to 2004: 7 secondary centres

• Secondary 1-4Since 2005, secondary GE decentralized into

school-based Integrated Programmes (IP)• 6 year programmes

MOE

Selection of Teachers for gifted education

Good Academic qualificationsGood teaching recordInterviewLesson observation

Training of Teachers

On-the-job trainingFrequent consultations with GE Branch

officersNew teachers:

- Foundation Course in Gifted Education- Affective Education for the Gifted- Curriculum Differentiation for the Gifted

Local/overseas workshops and conferences

Beyond Gifted Education

Providing for the highly able

Who are the high-ability pupils?• Identified by GE Branch• Based on standardized test scores

Providing for the highly able

Who are the high-ability pupils?• Identified by schools (e.g. teacher observation) • Use of characteristics checklists to help teachers nominate pupils

http://intranet.moe.gov.sg/gifted/documents/Char%20Checklists.pdf

Providing for the highly able

Existing programmes for the high-ability pupils• Special programmes (e.g. Innovative problem-soling programme, Creative Arts Programme)Initiatives by schools and clusters • School-based enrichment programmes • Cluster-based enrichment programmes • Leveraging on teacher expertise in GEP centres

Gifted Education Programme

National Institute of Education

Training programmes for teachers of the gifted and High Ability Learners

GEP teachers are trained-on-the-job3 compulsory (30 hour) courses • The Foundation Course in Gifted Education • Curriculum Differentiation (2nd Year) • Affective Education2 years of developmental supervision, mentored by Specialist Officers in different subjectsCurriculum Differentiation Practicum (3rd Year)

NIE

NIE: In-Service Courses

Certificate in Teaching Pupils with High Ability (CeTPHA)Advanced Diploma in Teaching Pupils with High AbilityMaster in Education with specialization in Gifted Education

CeTPHA- Why a Practicum?

To bridge theory into practice for teachersTo support and “handhold” the teacher for a short period to build their confidence in practising differentiated instruction – the supervisor acts as a coachTo encourage the use of tools and strategies learnt in 3 other modulesTo help key personnel in schools implement sound enrichment programmes for talent development

Nan Hua Primary School

Nurturing the Highly Able:Gifted Education Programme

Gifted Education Programme

Started in 1984Seeks to meet the intellectual needs of the gifted through the provision of an enriched curriculum within a stimulating & interactive environmentGifted Education Branch - a unit within MOE to oversee the identification & selection of pupils; GE programming & curriculum planning; research and evaluation

Enriched Subjects English Mathematics Science Mother Tongue Social studies Civic and Moral Education/ Pastoral Care/ Community Involvement Programme Art and Craft, Music, Physical Education

Identification

2-stage Screening & Selection process • Screening – all P3 pupils • ENGLISH • MATHEMATICS • Selection tests – about 5% of cohort • ENGLISH • MATHEMATICS • GENERAL ABILITY

Extensions

Curriculum based enrichment activities- seminars, camps, courses Competitions Special provisions Mentorship Programmes

Mentorship Programmes

Science Mentorship Programmes Innovation Programme Creative Arts Programme Humanities and Social Sciences Research Programme Leadership Development Programme Moot Parliament Programme Computer Mentorship Programme

Resources

At the school Smaller classes, additional planning

time for teachersBuilding capacity External consultants Overseas training – scholarship for

postgraduate studies, summer institutes and visits to gifted programmes in other countries

Anglo-Chinese School

Shuqun Primary School

End