Vancouver parents protest closure of gifted-student program

Parents and alumni are calling on the Vancouver School Board (VSB) to reopen admissions to a program for gifted students for the next school year, out of concern that it might be permanently halted.

On Wednesday, parents and former students of the University Transition Program (UTP) protested against its potential closure outside the VSB offices at Broadway and Fir streets.

They said the program supports advanced students to excel in academics and allows them to find like-minded peers.

The UTP, or Transition Program for Gifted Students, condenses five years of high school into two years for students on track for early admission into university.

The program, which has been co-ordinated between the University of British Columbia, the VSB and Ministry of Education since 1993, has admitted 20 students annually between the ages of 13 and 15 with the aim of providing challenging learning opportunities to push students mentally and academically.

The program is based in the the Auditorium Annex at UBC. (Google Street View)

Kristin Hopkins says her daughter struggled with anxiety and social isolation in the public school system and was hoping to apply to UTP in the future.

"It's a great program for profoundly gifted students, who have special needs," Hopkins said.

"UTP has been this hope out in the future for her to possibly be able to attend. A place… to feel like she fits in, to feel intellectually challenged … [now] she may not have the chance to even apply."

UTP announced in January it would be halting enrolment for the 2024-25 school year amid concerns over students' mental health and while a formal external review takes place.

It says the program has not been closed and decisions about its future will not be made until the review is complete.

'A safe place'

Alyona Glazyrina, a UTP graduate, joined the rally on Wednesday to support the program that she sayd provided her "with a safe place" to thrive academically.

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"Cancelling the admissions process now not only impacts future students, but also students currently in the program," said Glazyrina, explaining that second-year students gain leadership skills by mentoring the incoming class.

Parents have also raised concerns that Deetken Insight, the company conducting the review of the program, is not an appropriate consultant.

"Deetken Insight is a company with no experience in gifted education or adolescent psychology and their study is being done without input from all stakeholders," said Tracy Adole, whose daughter is enrolled in UTP.

The Ministry of Education says the review of the program will include consultations with current students and family, as well as staff and alumni, to understand specific concerns.

'Contagious' stress

UTP alumnus Rachel Lin says while she enjoyed her experience at UTP, the program could be quite stressful.

"Think about how academically stressful it must be to suddenly, at 13, fixated about getting into university," she said, adding that unlike some of her peers, her parents didn't pressure her to get high grades or attend the program.

"If [you're] not someone who's easily drawn into pressure, suddenly you might be surrounded by … 90, 80 per cent of your peers who are stressed out … it becomes a little bit contagious."

Lin says UTP occasionally carries out reviews with current students and recent alumni, but rarely has spoken to older graduates.

She says this became the focus of her master's thesis, leading her to interview older graduates about their time at UTP.

She asked them if they would have their children participate in the program.

"The answer was no. A significant no," she said. "Just being a younger student in general [at university], they had less than satisfactory experiences."

She says alumni suggested the program be made longer and more in line with a typical high school experience, with access to advanced classes, extracurricular activities and sports, and emotional support with same-aged peers.

In a statement, the VSB says program admission has been paused given "the serious nature of the concerns raised."

It says the program will continue to operate for currently enrolled students.

"This decision was made with careful consideration," the VSB said. "The gravity of the identified concerns requires us to take prompt and decisive action to prioritize the well-being of students."