A history of church missionary society high schools in Uganda, 1900-1924: the education of a protestant elite.

Watson, Tom

A history of church missionary society high schools in Uganda, 1900-1924: the education of a protestant elite.

Date

1968

Authors

Watson, Tom

Publisher

University of East Africa

Abstract

History is a story of challenge and response this study shows the challenge of higher education to the peoples of Uganda during the formative period between 1900 and 1924, and their response to it. The Church Missionary Society willingly entered the field of secular education. Its pioneer headmaster, Mr. C.W. Hattersley, the Rv. HW and the Rev. R.T.C Weatherhead forged a pattern of High school education in Buganda resembling the British Public School. After 1909 the mission began similar schools, primarily, for the sons of chiefs, in the eastern similarly, Miss A.L. Allens practical form of training at Gayaza Girl’s High School was adopted elsewhere. Why did the Buganda respond so so readily to this form of education? Realizing after the 1900 Uganda Agreement that future success depended upon a knowledge of English, their chiefs followed the example of Sir Apolo Kagwa, Buganda’s Katikiro, in sending their sons to Mengo High School and to King’s School, Budo. The desire to learn English gave the CMS missionaries considerable advantages over the French speaking white Fathers and the Dutch-speaking Hill Fathers. In addition, the CMS High Schools received strong support from British Officials. They relied upon these schools to supply the educated clerks and chiefs upon which the policy of Indirect Rule depended. The main emphasis in this work is upon Uganda’s varied ethnic groups and their initial response to the C.M/S High School movement.

Keywords

Education history, High schools, Missionary Society, Uganda, Church Missionary Society Uganda

Citation

Watson, T. (1968) A history of church missionary society high schools in Uganda, 1900-1924: the education of a protestant elite. Masters dissertation, University of East Africa. Available at (http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/detail.aspx)