The role of self-knowledge of gifted pupils in Singapore, a knowledge-based economy: Some preliminary findings

Abstract

True loss is for one whose days have been spent in utter ignorance of the self. The acquisition of self-knowledge is pertinent to the development of inner and ideal virtues of all cognitive beings. It is only when empowered with such conscious knowledge that the human race could be fully developed and civilization brought to greater heights. The role of self-knowledge for youths in building a knowledge-based society like Singapore cannot be denied. This study serves as a prelude to the education of children on self-knowledge, beginning with gifted pupils. Gifted pupils in nine GEP schools were taught to develop self-knowledge. A checklist of 124 items on a 9-point Likert scale was devised and pilot-tested with 1145 Primary 4 to Primary 6 pupils in the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) in Singapore. Preliminary results of factor analyses present interesting findings for statisticians, teachers, gifted pupils and their parents.