Attentive parents.
On Friday 4 March 1994, parents of pupils in the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) in Secondary One gathered at the school auditorium for a meeting with teachers, members of the school administration and officers from the Gifted Education Unit of the Ministry of Education.
Attentive parents.
The evening began with a short speech by the Principal, Dr Ong Teck Chin. Dr Ong outlined the school's vision and philosophy, and reiterated its commitment to develop every child to his fullest potential. He also informed parents of the school's achievements in the 1993 GCE 'O' Level Examinations, which had been announced recently. To allay any fears that the school focussed only on academic excellence, he also touched on the school's sporting prowess.
Dr. Ong making a point.
Next, there was a presentation by officers from the Gifted Education Unit. Mrs Bibiana Clark, the Programme Deputy Director, highlighted some of the key features of the GEP. Another officer, Miss Tan Lay Choo, then shared the findings of a survey administered to parents last year, whose children had completed three years of the GEP in primary school. The responses received were generally very positive, and parents were assured that the concerns raised were being looked into.
Miss Tan Lay Choo addressing the parents.
After the presentation, a short question-and-answer session followed. After this, parents were invited for light refreshments. For the next two hours, parents had personal discussions with the teachers on their sons' progress. Some parents wanted general feedback on their sons' conduct and performance in school; others were anxious about their sons' progress in specific subjects. By eight-thirty, the meeting ended formally. A beneficial exchange had taken place, and everyone was in agreement that it had been an evening well-spent.
Tan Ban Huat