Religious and moral education in Hong Kong catholic schools: A retrospect

Nai Kwok CHAN

Research output: Contribution to conferencePapers

Abstract

This is a review of the curriculum of religious education of the Catholic primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong over the last three decades. Of the subject matter of religious education, there has witnessed an obvious shift of the focus from an emphasis on transmission of biblical knowledge to the call for reflection of life experiences of students in the light of the biblical teachings. As far as the teachers are concerned, a phenomenon has persisted that most of them are not properly prepared for the job in terms of their mastery of essential subject matter knowledge and pedagogical knowledge. The most notable feature of the learners in the context of this study lies in the fact that over 95% of them are not baptized Catholics. The challenge of religious education in such a context has thus become a matter of relevance and attractiveness of the subject to them. Finally, the school milieu has been found not particularly favourable to religious education as academic achievement, instead of character formation, has been given top priority in even prestigious Catholic schools.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2009
EventAsia-Pacific Conference on Children's Spirituality - The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong
Duration: 26 Feb 200901 Mar 2009

Conference

ConferenceAsia-Pacific Conference on Children's Spirituality
Country/TerritoryHong Kong
Period26/02/0901/03/09

Citation

Chan, N. (2009, February). Religious and moral education in Hong Kong catholic schools: A retrospect. A curriculum initiative of religious and moral education in Hong Kong. Symposium conducted at the Asia-Pacific Conference on Children's Spirituality, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, China.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Religious and moral education in Hong Kong catholic schools: A retrospect'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.