APAD and GIFT ...

Programmes after programmes being introduced in school. Most of these programmes are spearheaded by different project managers. Ever since I leaped onto the teaching bandwagon years ago, scores of so-called great programmes had passed through school gate. Nearly all of them targeted the poor students, ushering them towards a better finish line. However, more often than not, those programmes were lacking these two vital criteria:

1. feasibility and
2. practicality

What used to interest the project managers most was the end result. They were more keen in numbers and percentages. They went to great lengths to make you fix an estimated target result. Did they know your poor students well? Far from it. Were they well aware of your students' learning difficulties? Far from it. Had they ever done any lesson in your class? Far from it - all in all, they held on tightly to the pathetic exam results. 

Things change, people change. More capable personnels lead the district and state education offices. They are educators themselves. They open their heart and mind to changes. They listen. To cut a long story short, a couple of great programmes were implemented last year and early this year:

1. APAD 
2. GIFT

Though these programmes are very much in their infancy stage, they are well received by my young charges. My young students could sense the benefits of doing APAD and GIFT. 

Thank you dear Kak Ros for the GIFT of life to the critical subject of all time.

Sophyta