Education streaming has always been determined based on the
absorption and learning curve of varying students. At that time, it
simply isn't 'fair' to put inept students next to outstanding ones
in the same class; the humiliating factor would be detrimental to
the progress of the younger students.
Now, when you segregate students based on language, sensitive
people will consider it tantamount to 'driving a wedge' between
students of the same level.
The only difference between SAP and express stream students was the
language. Initial, the stereotype was that SAP students were a few
rungs higher up the education chain. Then RI / RGS broke this
perception by going independent, declaring that all students in
their schools fall under the express catagory. This was quickly
followed by other top schools such as SJI and ACS. Keeping the GEP
course still retains some level of 'elitism' among the schools,
something that will hopefully change once the gap narrows.
Merging is therefore an indicator of 'growth'. It would interesting
to see how MOE juggles the newfound competitive status between the
two former streams.