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As a former GEP pupil, I am disappointed to find out about the revamp of the programme (“ ”, Aug 18). The current GEP provided immeasurable benefit for my education. I applaud the move by the Ministry of Education towards greater inclusion and helping every child reach his or her maximum potential. However, I have some reservations as to whether gifted children’s needs will be met. Based on my peers’ and my own experiences in the GEP, I can attest to how important it is to gifted children, both educationally and socially. The accelerated curriculum lets pupils learn at a pace suited to their abilities, keeping them engaged. It would be unfair to these children if they had to attend regular classes and enrichment programmes were limited to after-school activities. Gifted children are often misunderstood in childhood. Unusual interests and difficulties with relating to fellow students can lead to struggles with making friends, and even to being bullied. Having peers with similar academic passions is extremely beneficial to such children, both developmentally and socially. A common misconception is that gifted children need less support as they would do well in school anyway. However, the reverse is often true: they must be pushed and challenged, or they end up underachieving instead. This change is meant to “help more children reach their full potential”. But education is not a zero-sum game; one can support a larger pool of students while simultaneously giving gifted children the help they need. I hope that this change will not put the onus on parents to seek external enrichment activities to stimulate their gifted children, widening the gap between those with resources to do so and those without. I also hope this does not increase the pressure of getting into a “brand-name” primary school which already has the infrastructure to support top pupils. I was a child “attending PCF kindergartens and neighbourhood schools”. I hope children like me will continue to receive the support they need.