Intergenerational Mentorship on Character Traits Among Disadvantaged Primary School Students: A Controlled Pretest–Posttest Study

Abstract

Purpose: “Teach with Fun After-School Care Service (TWF)” was an educational mentoring program developing character traits among primary school students in the form of school-based mentorship, provisioned under a wider intergenerational project. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the program on character traits development among primary students. Methods: Two multi-school controlled pretest–posttest trials were conducted in primary one through three across two school years between 2016 and 2018. Among students, 37 (34.6%) were of ethnic minority and with special educational needs. Treatment group of 107 students were compared with 53 in comparison group on traits of self-control, responsibility, cooperation, kindness, and courtesy. Results: Results demonstrated interaction effects between time and group for self-control ( p = .026), responsibility ( p = .038), and courtesy ( p = .042). Discussion: This research provides evidence for TWF’s intervention model and offers implications for intergenerational programs. Findings enrich cumulative knowledge about desirable social outcomes in education setting.