Date: 17/05/2025
Over 800 schools participated in the scheme over the years.
Research proves that a caring culture can enhance the well-being of students and teachers.
The Caring School Award Scheme, organised by Hong Kong Christian Service (HKCS), has reached its 20th anniversary, with a cumulative participation of 858 schools, representing about 45% of all schools in Hong Kong, to promote a caring culture on campus and enhance the mental health of students and teachers. HKCS held the 20th Anniversary Award Ceremony and Forum today, with Sze Chun-fai Jeff, Acting Secretary for Education, as the officiating guest. At the event, HKCS also released the research results about the scheme. Chak Tung-ching Yvonne, Director of HKCS and Ho Yuk-fan, Chairperson of the Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters, along with teacher and student representatives, engaged in the forum discussion on building a sustainable campus caring culture.
Caring Culture Helps Students Grow Happily and Connect with Society
The research conducted from January to March 2025 surveyed 846 students and 311 teachers through questionnaires, including 606 people from 18 schools that had participated in the scheme and 551 people from 18 schools that had never participated in the scheme, using the 'Subjective Happiness Scale' and 'Hemingway Measure of Adolescent Connectedness'.
Results showed that pre-primary students, primary students, and teachers from schools that had participated in the scheme reported higher levels of happiness than those from schools that had not participated in the scheme. Similarly, secondary students from participating schools demonstrated higher levels of connectedness with different groups, such as friends, family, and school, than non-participating schools. High connectedness helps reduce risk behaviours such as drug use, alcohol abuse, truancy, and violence. The research further found that the more actively schools participated in the scheme, the higher the happiness and connectedness of their teachers and students.
Research | Schools that had participated in the scheme | Schools that had never participated in the scheme |
Happiness (Full score: 7) | ||
Pre-primary and Primary 1-3 Students | 5.9 | 5.8 |
Primary 4-6 Students | 5.3 | 5.0 |
Teachers | 5.4 | 5.1 |
Connectedness (Full score: 5) | ||
Secondary Students | 3.6 | 3.3 |
Encouraging the Education Sector to Establish Caring School Policies
HKCS advocates for the inclusion of caring school policies in regular systems to enhance the well-being of students and teachers in the long run:
1. Establish Sustainable Caring School Policies
- Schools should develop long-term policies to ensure the continuous implementation of caring school measures, with regular reviews to adapt to the changing needs.
2. Encourage Schools to Participate in the Caring School Award Scheme
- Regular exchange and recognition are key factors in successfully establishing a caring culture. Schools’ participation in the Caring School Award Scheme involves both teachers and students, rooting the caring culture on the campus.
3. Promote Student Participation to Build a Caring Campus Together
- Encourage students to collaborate with teachers, parents, and the community to design and promote caring activities, enhancing their sense of belonging to the school and community, and jointly creating a caring campus.
Research on 20th Caring School Award Scheme (PowerPoint in Chinese version only)
20th Caring School Award Scheme Forum (Chinese version only)
