Christian Schools in Chinese Culture—Hong Kong Scenario GCSC Geneva, 2012

Comparison China --- 9,597,000 sq km with a population of about 1.3 billions Hong Kong --- 1,100 sq km with a population of about 7.0 millions

Chinese Culture Confucius (Confucianism) Mencius (Mengzi)

Schooling in Chinese Culture Confucian teaching Communist ideology Mission/religious schools emerged in the late and after Ching Dynasty

Characteristics Schooling for upward mobility Academic performance is no. 1 Competitive and students under great pressure Character building Political propaganda, Mainland China

Christian Schools in China Is it Possible???

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Scenario

History Borrowed Land, British Colony Returned to China on July 1, 1977 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Western Style with Chinese Culture Characteristics

Schooling in Hong Kong Over 1200 kindergartens, from age 3 to 5 About 800 primary schools About 400 secondary schools 8 public funded universities, one with Baptist background; two private universities, one performing art academy; 6 private tertiary institutes offering approved degrees

Types of Schools All kindergartens are private, can opt for government fee subsidy paid for parents Primary and secondary schools are divided into Government schools Fully aided schools Direct subsidy schools Private independent schools International schools

Schools small in physical size

Christian Influence in schooling Nearly half of the kindergartens, primary and secondary schools are either operated by Catholic or Protestant (Christian denominations, churches or groups)--- 50% and 50% Most “Christian schools” do not have all Christian teachers --- Church/religious and Evangelical Christian schools

Christian Schools in Hong Kong Christian schools have a good reputation Not difficult to find Christian teachers, many Christians believe that being teachers have great opportunity to spread the gospel

Emphasis of spiritual dimension, character building and academic excellence---holistic Many young people become Christians in Christian schools A good opportunity to reach out to non-Christian parents Support to Christian families

Christian schools (including church/religious schools) are very independent and divided. It is difficult to gather them together . Christian Schools Association X

Christian Teachers’ Training Research Institute for Christian Education (RICE) offers training for Christian teachers in Christian schools education. Founded by Schools for Christ Foundation which is founded by Dr Paul Pang, now also the President of RICE

Challenges in the Future More Christian teachers will be trained in Christian school education We don’t know for how long can schools maintain the status quo

The essence of Christianity is fundamentally contradictory to Communism The impact of secularization, even among Christians