Pedagogy of Kindness Through Humanitarian Activities: A Case of High School Students in Vietnam

Abstract

Purpose: The main objective of the present study was to examine the factors that can develop kind behaviour among the students of Vietnam. Therefore, the effect of trust, sympathy, love, compassion and forgiveness on the kindness behavior among school students of Vietnam. Additionally, this study also examined the mediating role of forgiveness as well. Method: For this purpose, quantitative research was conducted in which a questionnaire survey was conducted with teachers at the high schools of Vietnam. The questionnaire was distributed among the 400 faculty members of schools in Vietnam. The usable response rate of the study was 67.5%. The data gathered was analysed using Smart PLS. Findings: The research findings show that important factors include gratefulness, loving, sympathetic, trust, compassion and forgiveness are important factors of Kindness behaviour. Moreover, mediating relationship of forgiveness behaviour is also confirmed. The implication to research and Practice: These findings of the study are helpful for the policymakers of the Vietnam education sector so they can develop a curriculum to promote kindness in the students' behaviour. This study also helps in promoting the importance of forgiveness so the students can adopt kindness in their behaviour. Additionally, this research is among very few studies that have highlighted important factors to develop forgiveness and kindness among students of Vietnam. In the end, this study highlighted that kindness in education can help students to know the way to show human love, to show empathy, care, sharing, help, protection and tolerance towards themselves and others.