In an accessible, technological and high-pressure world, it’s becoming increasingly clear that existing learning models just won’t cut the mustard. Schools are responding with new ways of thinking—with mindfulness at the heart of it all
In a note released by the Legislative Council last year, its Research Office looked at Hong Kong’s students, and the findings weren’t pretty. Students in Primary 4 and above spend at least 55 hours a week on school, private tutoring and homework.
Between the competing claims of study, extracurricular activities and digital devices, students are getting at least one hour less sleep per night than international standards recommend, and Legco warned that this may adversely affect physical and mental health.
According to Ian Clayton, head of the international stream at the French International School (FIS), it’s a problem in urban centres globally. “There’s a lot happening outside schools everywhere in terms of technology, pressure and competitiveness. It seems to be harder to get into universities, and the job market is changing irrevocably.”
With so much to contend with, how can your child possibly find their way? For clinical psychologist Dr Jacqueline Wolf, who is on the child development team at Central Health Partners, it’s about mindfulness.
Being present
“It’s essential to everything I’m doing,” she says. “Mindfulness is a skill to bring your attention to the present. We’re so well-connected and we have this access to everything at once that we’ve lost the ability to do one thing at a time, as well as to bring attention to our emotions and our experiences.”
Hong Kong schools are also beginning to recognise the value of mindfulness-based programmes. “What we’re seeing in schools is an acceptance that social and emotional learning is an important part of the curriculum from day one,” says Wolf.
At the Canadian International School (CDNIS), for example, roughly 20 teachers are trained in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), an eight-week programme that uses mindfulness meditation, yoga and body scanning to reduce stress and increase well-being. Shelly Chutke is one of them.