Proper Education of the Gifted and the Talented: A Panacea for Technological Advancement Vis-A-Vis Sustainable Development: Counsellors' Perspective

This paper examines various methods by which the gifted and the talented could be identified, encouraged and made to become useful to themselves and their societies. It sees the gifted and the talented as those children who are identified by professionally qualified persons, who by virtue of their outstanding abilities are capable of high performance in identified areas. Origin, prevalence and characteristics of the gifted and the talented are discussed with a view to using these in the achievement of technological advancement of the country. Problems of proper education of the gifted and talented in a developing nation are also highlighted. Reasons are given for establishing special centres for the gifted and talented where funds are available. Finally, comprehensive suggestions are made as to ways of helping/counseling the public, the classroom teachers, administrators of educational institutions and the gifted and talented for the overall achievement of technological advancement, which is a panacea for sustainable development. SOPHIA: An African Journal of Philosophy Vol. 9 (1) 2006: pp. 120-12