The Gifted Education Programme (GEP) is being discontinued in its current form from 2027. If you have a child in primary school, this matters because the familiar “test, get selected, transfer school” model is changing.
Here is the practical, parent-friendly summary, based on MOE updates and recent reporting.
My frank take: primary school has become a high-stakes parent game (I talked more about this in the CNA podcast post), and this change looks like MOE trying to lower the “elite school badge” effect by moving away from the old “9 GEP schools” model and spreading advanced learning across more centres. It’s fairer in intent, but whether it feels fair on the ground depends on how selection works, how much support every school gets (not just the 15 centres), and whether “advanced modules” stay as learning support, not a new status label.
Who This Is For
- Parents of P1 to P5 kids in 2026 (especially P2 and P3)
- Families who were thinking about the GEP identification exercise
- Parents of kids who are clearly strong in English, Math, or Science
What’s Changing (And When)
- The current primary-school GEP model is being discontinued from 2027.
- A key shift is that support for high-ability learners is meant to happen more broadly, not only via a small set of “GEP schools”.
- A new set of 15 designated primary schools will run advanced modules for higher-ability pupils.
The New Support Model (Plain English)
Think of it as 3 layers:
- Every school: more class-based and school-based stretching and enrichment.
- Designated centres: advanced enrichment modules (for pupils identified to benefit from more stretch).
- Other MOE programmes: subject-based and talent development pathways that already exist and will continue to evolve.
If you only remember 1 thing: the direction is less about “moving schools” and more about “getting the right stretch where you are, plus optional centre-based enrichment”.
The 15 Designated Centres (And What They Offer)
These 15 schools have been named as the centres:
What the centres are expected to run (based on what has been shared so far):
- After-school advanced modules (about 2 hours per week during term time)
- English, Math, and Science as focus areas
- Inter-disciplinary holiday modules (run during school holidays)
If your child is selected for a centre-based module, plan for logistics early. After-school sessions can mean travel time and a longer day.
How Pupils Will Be Identified
The broad idea is: earlier identification, fewer “high-stakes hoops”, and more than 1 data point.
Things MOE has said it will use (or continue to use) include:
- A standardised one-stage identification exercise at Primary 3 (MOE has said this starts with the 2026 Primary 3 cohort, in August)
- School-based observations and a more holistic view of the child (learning behaviours, attitude, work over time), not just 1 test score
- Additional chances later on (schools can nominate suitable Primary 4 and Primary 5 pupils in subsequent years)
If you are a “tell me the dates” parent: watch for your school’s circulars for the Primary 3 cohort, and double-check against MOE’s latest pages because implementation details matter.
What Parents Can Do Now
Use this as a checklist:
- Ask your child’s form teacher what “stretch” looks like in class for strong learners.
- If your child is P2 or P3 in 2026, set expectations early: the path is changing, and it is not just about practising for a test.
- Keep a simple portfolio of strengths (books read, projects, puzzles, competitions, science curiosity). This helps you describe your child’s learning profile clearly.
- Be careful with burnout. A longer school day plus after-school modules can be heavy for some kids.
- Bookmark the official pages below, and verify details there when dates and criteria are confirmed.
Links to Bookmark
