Caring for the development of youths

Archbishop Chan graduated in the 1980s from the Grantham College of Education – one of the colleges which amalgamated to establish what became The Education University of Hong Kong – where he majored in music and art. He explains that the theories of education and psychology he learned at Grantham gave him a profound understanding of the importance of putting people first in education, a teaching principle he still holds dear. The innovative educational concepts he encountered at the college helped him realise the importance of student-centred education and the need to cater to the development of each student. When discussing different educational theories, he speaks of educationists like John Dewey, Lawrence Stenhouse and Carl Rogers.

After five years of teaching, he felt a calling from God and embarked on theological training, eventually becoming a pastor. To this day, he actively promotes life education and continues to care for students. 

EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin (left) presents a certificate of appreciation to Archbishop Chan (centre) and the Venerable Sik Hin Hung (second from left), the keynote speakers in the 'Shining Moments – Achieving Our Core Values' lecture series

 

Life Education

Archbishop Chan believes that every life is precious, and as an educator, there is a responsibility to help students develop and become the best version of themselves. In his view, life education involves the holistic development of body, mind and spirit. He laments that we often focus only on external development, such as acquiring knowledge, while neglecting the cultivation of the heart and spirit, leading to a lack of resilience when facing setbacks. He advises young people not to give up easily in the face of failure but instead to learn from those experiences.

Regarding spiritual cultivation, he believes it transcends geographical, temporal and mortal boundaries. “Life education is about teaching people to have spiritual existence. For example, some of my teachers, even though they have left this physical world, still deeply influence my essence, as their spirits live on within me,” he says. Through music and poetry, he believes we can connect with people from different eras, resonate with them, enrich our lives and promote healthy growth.

To strengthen young people’s life education, Archbishop Chan actively gives back to his alma mater, participating in the work of The Education University of Hong Kong’s Religious Education and Spiritual Education Centre. He was recently invited to be the main guest speaker for the lecture series ‘Shining Moments – Achieving Our Core Values’, engaging in a dialogue on religion with the Buddhist monk, the Venerable Sik Hin Hung.