I WISH to highlight a problem in the Gifted Education Programme's assessment test which is used to pick pupils for the programme.

I have discovered that most of my son's classmates who sat for the programme's tests had been exhaustively trained to excel in the test.

Their parents enrolled them in English or mathematics enrichment classes after their year-end examination in Primary 2.

These children knew the kind of questions asked in the tests and the importance of English and mathematics. Their focus on these two subjects was reinforced with extra tuition.

Some of my son's classmates, whose results were about the same as his, managed to score high distinctions in English and mathematics.

Their parents engaged former teachers of the gifted programme to tutor their children and willingly shelled out the exorbitant fees.

If such is the case, how does one know if a pupil who passes the programme's required test is naturally clever or merely well coached?

Savvy parents with money to spare do not think twice about enrolling their children in preparatory tuition centres which charge as much as $2,000 for only eight lessons - in one subject.

How can average-income Singaporeans compete? How can we afford to spend thousands of dollars to help our children achieve a place in the programme?

Does the programme meet its main aim of selecting talent?

Jessie Tan (Ms)

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 22 Nov, 2008.