Title: The Invisible RGS Divide - Perception
Aim: Our RS Project seeks to identify and clarify the sources of the divide between GEPers and non-GEPers. We hope for the study to give insight to this great divide, in order for the school to resolve the issue of this invisible divide in RGS.
Comparing different trains of thought
Understanding the divide
Factors
i. Perception
Imposed by comments of teachers
Value judgement
Background of GEP
GEP entry through DSA
Anecdotes
Teachers
Constantly make reference to GEPers and non-GEPers
Comments made by teachers alludes the separation of GEPers and non-GEPers
Implies that GEPers are supposedly better than non-GEPers
Students
Have cliques, and group segregation is present in a social context (GEPers do not mix with non-GEPers)
Feel that there is a lack of interaction outside the classroom
The mix of GEPers and non-GEPers is healthy, however, the lack of mixing is quite clear
Amongst non-GEPers, there is a perception that GEPers are “smarter”
There is also a perception that GEPers have more branded stuff (material possessions, which also shows the economic divide)
Non-GEPers think that GEPers got in the easy way and think of themselves highly, because they got in through DSA
MOE
Supposedly no longer anymore GEP in secondary school
Questions
i. Are the perceptions above shared by everybody?
ii. The GEP does not exist but yet people perceive it to be. Where is the source of this feeling?
iii. Is the perception actually by non-GEPers?
iv. If there are GEP classes, why does everyone take the same syllabus?
