SINGAPORE — In a bid to identify and help more pupils with higher abilities, the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) will be discontinued in its current form and replaced with a new approach that will cut across all primary schools. 

The revamped GEP under the Ministry of Education will allow schools to have their own programmes to help pupils "grow in their areas of strengths and interests", Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday (Aug 18). 

Speaking at the Institute of Technical Education's headquarters in Ang Mo Kio during his inaugural National Day Rally speech, he recapped that GEP, which started in 1984, is for students with higher abilities who "can go faster", with the aim of supporting them while stretching them to their full potential. 

"After 40 years, I think it’s time to update the GEP," he said. 

Currently, GEP is available only in nine of the 180 primary schools. Primary 3 pupils are put through a two-part screening process, including an English, mathematics and general ability test.

Those who are identified for the programme are then placed in GEP schools if they wish to join the programme. 

About 1 per cent of the Primary 3 cohort — or about 370 to 400 students — enrol in this programme each year. 

"We will equip the schools to identify their own high-ability learners, so this will benefit more students," Mr Wong said, adding that the new approach will allow selected students to continue in their own primary schools and remain with friends and teachers with whom they have bonded. 

As for students who can benefit from being stretched even further in particular subjects, Mr Wong said that there will be opportunities for them to go beyond the school-based programmes. 

"They can come together for after-school enrichment modules in a nearby school, to learn and interact with one another."  

Mr Wong, who did not give a start date for the revamped programme, added that Education Minister Chan Chun Sing will share more details at a later date. 

While calling the revamp a "significant change", Mr Wong said that it is consistent with the Government's philosophy in education.

"Every child is different — they come into our school system with different abilities.

"We take care of all of them — not just the early bloomers and high-ability students, but also those like me, growing up in the heartlands, attending PCF (PAP Community Foundation) kindergartens and neighbourhood schools.

He added: "Whatever the starting points, we will help everyone to learn, develop and grow, and realise their full potential."