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Does a faith-based education really contribute to academic excellence in Hong Kong?

Nurturing compassionate individuals is a key tenet of such schools, from Anfield to Carmel Hong Kong – but how well do they prepare students for life beyond the classroom?

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Pupils clamber on climbing equipment at the Christian Alliance P.C. Lau Memorial International School in Hong Kong. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Erica Fong

Long before public and private school systems existed, the world’s first classrooms were almost all faith-based – from European monasteries in the Middle Ages to schools that integrated religion with secular learning throughout the Reformation and Enlightenment.

Today, faith-based schools – be they Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim or otherwise – continue to offer rigorous academics alongside moral and spiritual instruction, laying a foundation for learning that nurtures both intellectual growth and the development of strong character. This distinctive blend is what makes these schools valuable in today’s diverse and competitive educational landscape.

While some parents are wary, others are curious: what are the pros and cons of a religious education for students, and how does such instruction affect their future and academic excellence? Are faith-based schools better at instilling discipline and purpose in students, or do they tend to insulate children from the wider world?

Children in class at the Christian Alliance P.C. Lau Memorial International School, Hong Kong. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Children in class at the Christian Alliance P.C. Lau Memorial International School, Hong Kong. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
According to Dr Melissa Giglio, a clinical psychologist specialising in child, adolescent and family therapy at Central Health in Hong Kong, “The advantage of religious schools is that there is an emphasis on promoting spiritual understanding, consciousness, community and care towards others. These are values that we try to instil in children regardless of their spiritual affiliation,” she says.
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“One of the primary benefits [of attending a faith-based school] is the integration of faith-based values into the curriculum,” says Dr Cora Hui, head of Christian Alliance P.C. Lau Memorial International School (CAPCL). “Instilling Biblical values and a moral framework in our students shapes their character and prepares them to be influential role models in their communities.”
At Carmel School Hong Kong, “students are provided with a set of values and a moral framework rooted in the Old Testament and Jewish faith, which gently guides them to understand, appreciate and practise justice, righteousness, kindness and compassion,” says Rachel Friedmann, principal. “Values such as achdut [‘unity’ in Hebrew] foster collaboration, empathy and mutual support among students, and teach them the importance of working together to overcome challenges.”
Carmel School Hong Kong principal Rachel Friedmann says her school provides children with a set of values and a moral framework. Photo: courtesy Carmel School
Carmel School Hong Kong principal Rachel Friedmann says her school provides children with a set of values and a moral framework. Photo: courtesy Carmel School

Besides emphasising values and moral frameworks, faith-based schools also expose students to religious rituals, routines and traditions that can promote cultural learning and understanding.

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