Spirituality as a positive youth development construct: conceptual bases and implications for curriculum development.

This paper outlines the conceptual bases of 'spirituality' as a positive youth development construct and the implications for curriculum development in junior secondary schools. In essence, spirituality embraces (i) connectedness with others that includes other people and a higher being, (ii) establishing personal beliefs and values, and (iii) the search of answers to the meaning of life. By considering adolescents' cognitive development and other developmental needs, gender and cultural issues, ten units of positive youth development programmes are designed to foster spirituality in Secondary 1 to 3 students in Hong Kong. These programme units constitute part of the P.A.T.H.S. Project supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. In the Secondary 1 curriculum, the goal of the units is to facilitate students to connect with other people and a higher being. In the Secondary 2 curriculum, the goals of the units are to help students reflect on their possessions in life and reevaluate the meaning of their life from people who experience great agony. In the Secondary 3 curriculum, the goals are to help students search for the meaning of life.