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Gifted Education Programme: Individualised Study Options

The term “Individualised Study Options” (ISO) was introduced in 2003 to replace the “Individualised Research Study” (IRS) as an umbrella term for project work in the GEP.

The IRS has been a cornerstone in the GEP enriched curriculum for many years. It is an independent research project based on pupils' personal interests. It aims to develop in pupils library research skills, inquiry skills, learning-how-to-learn skills as well as written, oral and visual communication skills. It offers pupils the opportunity to pursue a self-selected real-life problem like a “practising professional” would.

Pupils do not receive a grade in their report books on their IRS projects, but outstanding projects receive recognition in their schools through various ways such as certificates of merit awards.

While IRS remains an option for project work, ISO now offers pupils a wide range of alternatives with different foci and skills, such as specialised IT skills, creative problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial skills. Programmes such as Odyssey of the Mind, Future Problem Solving and Innovation Programme are now legitimate study options under the scope of ISO.

ISO in principle adopts the same structure as IRS–a teacher-mentor supervises a small number of pupils and provides constant monitoring and feedback to encourage and help the pupils.

Target Groups

Archives of past IRS and ISO Projects