Effects of character education program on gifted and talented students’ self-esteem

Abstract

This study was conducted with purpose to assess the character of Malaysian gifted and talented learners. The main objective of the study is to gather baseline data that could be used to develop self-profile of this population of learners, which could be utilized to predict their future success and holistic well-being. Specifically, the research examines the respondents’ character in the cognitive, emotional, physical, leadership, spiritual, and citizenship domains. A total number of 194 students from the National Gifted and Talented Center, University of Kebangsaan Malaysia – a ‘living laboratory’ school established to spearhead the gifted and talented education paradigm of the nation – were purposively sampled as the research’s respondents. The Gifted and Talented Student’s Self-Esteem Questionnaire (GTS-SEQ) consisted of 72 items (5-point Likert scale) was administered to the respondents in a duration of 60 minutes. Data was descriptively analysed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 23.0. Overall finding showed that the respondents possessed satisfactory character traits in all domains (overall mean value was 3.86, and independent mean value was ranging from 3.63 to 4.13). The findings of this research works provide useful information that could help the Center and other stakeholders of Malaysian gifted and talented education, in developing effective character-building program as well as the support system (in terms of psychoeducational programs and counselling services) to holistically mould the students’ personality and well-being.

Keywords

• education system
• Gifted-talented students
• Self-esteem

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