Singapore has long been renowned worldwide for its rigorous and efficient education system, and its elite education has attracted attention in Asia and even the world.

However, this highly respected education model is facing a profound change.The Singapore government announced that it would cancel the Gifted Education Programme (GEP).

This project, once regarded as the "cradle of future leaders", has been one of the core of Singapore's education system since its launch in 1984. With the changing times, this plan has finally come to an end.

Why did Singapore abandon this education model that it once prided itself on? What is the underlying meaning behind this decision?

The end of elite education in Singapore

Recently, Singapore's new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced at the National Day Rally thatThe government will cancel the current Gifted Education Programme (GEP) for primary schools and plans to implement a new education model from 2027.

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said that nearly 10% of Singapore's students will benefit from the new education model, equivalent to about 3,000 out of more than 30,000 primary school students each year being able to receive gifted and talented education.

Under the new education model, the current GEP second stage test will be cancelled and only the first stage selection test will be retained.

Afterwards, the teacher will observe the students' performance in all aspects.Students who excel in specific areas are selected from Primary 4 to Primary 6.

These selected students can stay in their original schools and continue to receive gifted education tailored to their specialties.

2026 will be the last batch of gifted and talented students to be admitted to these nine primary schools.Starting next year, all primary school students will no longer be streamed and will not need to take the GEP selection test, and will receive the same basic education.

Mr Wong said the government's new education model would enable every primary school to develop students with stronger abilities.This model will replace the current elementary school gifted program.

In the future, each primary school will develop its own plan to help more able pupils develop their strengths and interests.

In addition to the regular curriculum, some students can receive further extended study in specific subjects.

Students with stronger abilities can also participate in after-school enrichment courses to gain additional learning opportunities and thus develop comprehensively in multiple aspects.

After-school enrichment courses are different from regular academic courses. They are difficult and challenging to a certain extent and focus mainly on cultivating students' curiosity and creativity.

At the same time, the training intensity of the learning programs will be gradually increased in the middle school stage, and students will have more opportunities to delve deeper into specific areas.

The Ministry of Education will also make full use of the professional knowledge and rich experience of the nine schools that offer gifted education programs to continue to cultivate more capable students under the new model.

A genius class with glory and pressure

In 1981, a team led by Dr. Zheng Yongshun, then Minister of State for Education, studied gifted education programs in Germany, Israel, and Russia.

The Israeli model was eventually chosen as a better fit for Singapore, which is to set up schools specifically for students with outstanding academic performance.

Singapore's gifted class program has been implemented since 1984. The original intention of establishing the program was to tailor it for the 1% of students with exceptionally high talent and provide personalized teaching based on their unique needs.

Usually this selection takes place in the third grade of elementary school, with a total of two exams.

The first time is the initial screening, and the main examination subjects are English + Mathematics; the second time is the re-examination, and the main examination subjects include English, Mathematics, science knowledge, etc.

According to statistics, the passing rate for the first and second rounds is 10% each. Ultimately, about 1% of third-grade students (about 500) enter the gifted class each year and receive an elite education different from that of ordinary students.

These students receive more in-depth course content, learn at a faster pace, and place greater emphasis on improving critical thinking and creativity.

GEP test points for third graders

But gradually, the original intention of the gifted class was distorted and turned into another form of exam.

In order to get their children into gifted classes, parents start enrolling their children in tutoring classes as early as the first grade of primary school and work hard to improve their children's grades.

Singapore's tutoring market has flourished in recent years. Especially under the pressure of gifted classes, the number and scale of tutoring classes have increased rapidly, covering various subject areas from language, mathematics to science.

Many tutoring institutions even set up GEP preparation classes to help children prepare for the exam in a targeted manner.

According to relevant reports, Singapore has a population of only 4 million, but the local tutoring market share is as high as 10 billion RMB! This data reflects the importance parents attach to gifted classes and their high investment in education.

The existence of gifted classes has trapped students and parents in an invisible "involution" that they cannot escape.

In Singapore, gifted classes are regarded as "the best classes in the best schools", and many parents are trying their best to get their children into them.Some parents send their children to gifted classes by having them attend various GEP preparation classes and "practice questions".

In fact, it is not a good thing for these students who have "passed" the GEP by practicing questions. They often suffer greater pressure.

Lianhe Zaobao once reported that a student who was admitted to a gifted class in primary school gradually fell behind due to the increasing difficulty of the courses. As a result, he lost motivation to study in secondary school and his grades dropped significantly.

The Ministry of Education has made several statements.If the child does not belong to the 1% with exceptional talent, after barely "passing" the GEP class, he or she will face great pressure and may suffer from self-doubt and loss of confidence.

Moreover, this kind of artificial manipulation not only makes children who are truly talented but do not have the financial ability to prepare for the exam lose their opportunities, but also aggravates the solidification of social classes.

Although gifted programs provide many students with better learning resources, they also bring tremendous pressure.

As of May 2019, among the cases that have sought help from the Singapore Aid Association,78% of the requests were from young people aged 10 to 29, and the proportion of those seeking help increased by 56%.

In the 24-hour helpline,22% of the adolescents expressed suicidal intentions.

The gifted class program, which has been implemented for nearly 40 years, has trained many celebrities in Singapore who have achieved outstanding achievements in various fields.

But geniuses are rare after all, and many students who enter gifted classes eventually become mediocre due to inappropriate educational methods.

From elite to diverse: the cost and future of education reform

Singapore's cancellation of its gifted classes marks a major adjustment to its education system.

On the surface, this seems to be a abandonment of elite education, but in fact it is another bold attempt by Singapore in the field of education.

In the past, Singapore's elite education system has successfully shaped a group of accomplished leaders in various fields due to its strict screening and training mechanisms.

With the development of globalization, society's demand for talents is becoming more and more diversified, and the traditional elite education model can no longer meet the diversified needs of future society.

The Singapore government realizes that focusing only on the development of a few geniuses will not be able to fully tap the potential of all students.

Therefore, the government hopes to provide every child with the opportunity to develop their strengths and interests through this new education model, thereby creating a more inclusive and flexible education system.

After the cancellation of the gifted classes,Each primary school will develop its own plan to enable more able pupils to develop their strengths in their home school, rather than focusing just on the development of a few gifted individuals.

The implementation of this policy can also balance resources and opportunities among schools, weaken the traditional advantages of famous schools, promote the balanced distribution of educational resources, and give every primary school the opportunity to become a "good school."

However, the policy has elicited mixed reactions from Singaporeans.

Supporters believe thatThis move reflects Singapore’s emphasis on educational equity and student well-being in the new era.

However, opponents worry thatSuch a change could weaken Singapore's international competitiveness.

Especially in the context of accelerating globalization and increasingly fierce competition for talent, how can the country ensure that it continues to maintain its advantage on the global stage without "elites"?

But faced with an increasingly complex global competitive environment, Singapore has chosen a more challenging path: cultivating more diverse talent rather than relying solely on the success of a few elites.