For the education of gifted children in Vilnius and Kaunas – the international program “Gifted”
The international program “Gifted”, which was launched in Lithuania last year and is aimed at educating gifted children, has gained immense popularity – hundreds of participants have registered in Kaunas. After evaluating the successful start, this year it was decided to expand the program and offer it not only to Kaunas residents, but also to residents of the capital. “Gifted” is a special program for the intellectual and emotional education of gifted children and a professional IQ testing methodology, according to which a child’s intelligence quotient is determined in order to prepare an individual educational plan for each, taking into account their abilities.
The “Gifted” program, which was initiated by Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) together with partners from Israel, will open a special center in Vilnius in September this year. Future third, fourth, fifth, tenth and eleventh graders are already invited to register in both the capital and Kaunas – testing and selection of participants is planned to begin in April. Another innovation has been initiated in the temporary capital – future preschoolers, five- and six-year-old children who will enter the preschool group in September, are invited to register. A Saturday “Gifted” school will be organized for them in Kaunas.
The international program “Gifted” is implemented according to the recognized Israeli model of education for gifted children, which consists of special educational programs for children aged 3-18 and an IQ testing methodology. The selection in the program is carried out by Lithuanian and Israeli educational experts and psychologists. “Gifted” is an open learning environment where teachers and lecturers help children grow intellectually and emotionally, special educational programs for gifted children are implemented, psychological consultations are provided, winter and summer camps, consultations and seminars for parents are organized.
According to Dileta Tindžiulienė, the coordinator of the “Gifted” project in Lithuania, the program aims to discover and develop the abilities of talented children – many countries have been investing heavily in this for many years, while in Lithuania such a program is being organized for the second year in a row. In this project, VMU cooperates with the Israeli company “IP Capital” and the internationally recognized Ron Vardi Training Center in Rishon Lezion, which develops the cognitive and creative competencies of talented children.
“Gifted children are the best investment in the future of Lithuania, which really pays off. They do not appear in the sixth grade – they come different, endowed with exceptional abilities, therefore it is important to create all the conditions for them to grow, improve their exceptional abilities and help them realize themselves from early childhood. This requires professionals who are able to work with gifted children,” says project coordinator D. Tindžiulienė.
According to the initiators, gifted children are those who objectively stand out from others with extremely high abilities, more mature thinking, creativity, faster knowledge acquisition, and often higher achievements. They are also often more sensitive to the environment around them, so they may experience challenges while learning: loss of motivation due to lessons that are not interesting to them, more anxiety due to the high expectations of others, greater loneliness due to their exceptional abilities. For such a child’s abilities to unfold, a supportive environment is needed – and this is what the program aims to create.
The “Gifted” program is implemented according to the model of the Israeli Ron Vardi Center. In Israel, the “Gifted” program has been implemented for 35 years, searching for gifted children, allocating significant funds for their education, and preparing special teachers to work with them. In this country, the education of gifted children is a priority area of education, in which targeted investments are made. In Israel, the teaching process is based on the principle that a child must be seen and heard. The country’s respectful attitude towards a child as a person is aptly revealed by the saying “You can’t be everything, but you can be anything”.
“Using Israel’s advanced and recognized experience, a unique concept was developed – how to identify and educate gifted children from kindergarten to university. We have created such a program in Lithuania, where a team of qualified teachers educates gifted children”, – explains one of the program’s implementers, General Partner of IP Capital Group Eli Fux.
Students in the “Gifted” program can develop their STEAM (biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science), art, literature, law, business, philosophy, entrepreneurship and other skills. They can also improve their perseverance, creativity, critical thinking, analytical and communication skills. VMU, as a liberal arts university, encourages students’ ability to apply the principles of comprehensive education in life. At the same time, the program supports the values of interdisciplinary, citizenship, social sensitivity, and responsibility.
The organizers invite children who wish to participate in the Gifted program to register to take part in testing. Future students in grades 3, 4, 5, 10 and 11 are invited to register at the Gifted centers in Vilnius and Kaunas. Testing is scheduled for April-June.
In Kaunas, prospective preschoolers (5-6 years old) who will enter the preschool group in September are invited to register for the Saturday Gifted school. Their testing is scheduled for March.
Participation in the Gifted program is paid.