The Contribution of christian missionaries to education in Meru 1908-1963.

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Date
2012-05-25
Authors
Micheni, Stephen Linus
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Abstract
This thesis discusses and assesses contribution of Christian Missionaries to education in Meru from 1908 to 1963. The study examines the historical foundations of Western education in Meru and factors that influenced its development. This Western education imparted to the Ameru by the Church of Scotland Missionaries, Consolata Catholic Missionaries and the United Methodist Missionaries is surveyed to indicate: (a) The contribution by the Christian Missionaries to education in Meru in relation to efforts by the Colonial Government, the Local Native Council and Independent Schools Associations. (b) The role the Christian Missionaries played in relation to: (i) Organisation, Management of Schools and Training Institutions. (ii) Personnel and Teacher recruitment. (iii) Curriculum Formulation, implementation and quality of education imparted. (iv) Financial and Physical support. (c) What led to the demand for secular and private Schools. (d) The nature of mission--State partnership in the provision of education to the Ameru. In order to answer the questions adequately the researcher used historical method for data collection and analysis. After examining some of the generally accepted attributes to Missionary education and the findings it has been found out that: (i) The Meru Local Native Council, the Independent Schools and Church Associations played a vital and complimentary role to the contribution by the Christian Missionaries on education in Meru. (ii) It has been found out that there were benefits accrued from Missionary education but that does not cover up the problems associated with the whole complex tie of Christianity and Western civilization which were seen as one thing by the Ameru. In other words what the Christian Missionaries Contributed was weighed against what they stagnated and what they destroyed especially in traditional education. (iii) It has also been established that Christian Missionaries were the pioneers of Western education in Meru. It is however , noted that the subsequent development of the education structure and policy flourished under a system of partnership between the Missionaries and the State. Despite instances of strained relationship, Mission-state co-operation has continued to today especially in areas of special education.
Description
Department of Educational Foundation,163p. The LA 1561.M5 1988
Keywords
Education--History--Kenya--Meru, Church and education--Kenya--Meru
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