A forgiveness education programme with primary school students

by Chau, Tat-sing

(Uncorrected OCR) ABSTRACT The present study investigated the effects of a forgiveness education programme on primary students. It was engaged in a randomized, experimental and comparison group, pretest-posttest design. The study was implemented with 56 primary six students who judged themselves having been hurt and chose not to forgive the offenders. The programme was devised by the researcher based on the Enright process model of forgiveness (1991). Following the programme, the experimental group, relative to the comparison group, illustrated statistically significant higher hope and self-esteem, and lower depression. The results also revealed that the programme did increase the participants?willingness to forgive and positive attitude toward their offenders. Moreover, the participants showed a better understanding of the concepts of forgiveness compared to the comparison group. These results were maintained in a three-month follow-up, except self-esteem and hope. Besides, the students?perception of the programme was positive and encouraging. They appreciated the opportunity to learn forgiveness and valued the programme highly. The findings reflected that the programme had a positive effect on the experimental participants. The researcher believes that the forgiveness education programme could be organised in primary schools and students should be nurtured the elements of forgiveness as early as possible. It is hoped that this study can serve as a basis for educators and teachers to further consider and explore the possibility of III extending forgiveness education in Hong Kong primary schools. IV