Belgian Congo: Education



Figure 1.--Here is a group of students at the Catholic Collège Alfajiri in Bukavu during 1953. The boys here are the children of the Belgians and other Europeans working in the Belgian Congo. The town was located near Lake Kivu close to the Rwanda border.

Schools in the Congo are a result of European colonization. As far as we know, there were no formals schools until ther European colonial era. The Democratic Republic of Congo was a Belgian colony until 1960. The Belgian Congo covered an emense area of central Africa. King Leopold administered the colony as the Congo Free State. It was essentially his own private fiefdom and terrible attrocities were committed by the Belgians during his reign. As far as I know, no effort was made by the Congo Free State to educate the Congolese. Roman Catholic missionaries opened some primary schools. The Belgian Government took over administration of the colony (1908). A extensive educational sysem was founded, mostly at the primary level. The Government had little to do with the schools. They were mostly run by missdionary groups, especially the Castholic missiionaries. In the period after World War II, about 10 percent of Congolese children were attending primary school, compared to just 3 percent in neighboring French Equatorial Africa. Only a few Congolese children advanced to the secondary level. Belgian officials finally opened two universities (mid-1950s). At the time of independece, however, almost no Congolese had university degrees. The colony was as a result almost totally unprepared for independence.

Congo Free State

Schools in the Congo are a result of European colonization. As far as we know, there were no formals schools until ther European colonial era. The Democratic Republic of Congo was a Belgian colony until 1960. The Belgian Congo covered an emense area of central Africa. King Leopold administered the colony as the Congo Free State. It was essentially his own private fiefdom and terrible attrocities were committed by the Belgians during his reign. As far as we know, no substantil effort was made by the Congo Free State to educate the Congolese. We do see settlement schools. Roman Catholic missionaries opened some mision schools. Protesrabt misionaries were also active. And because very small numbers of Belgians moved to the Congo, there was little need to set up schools for Belgian children. We notice photographs of what were called settlement schools. Settlement houses was a term used to assist the poor in the expanding industrial cities. In the Congo, settlement meant the communities the Belgians supervised and used as administratuve centers. Most were along the Congo River and other riversrs, because there were no improved roads and very limited rail lines. We are not sure what to make of these images of settlement school. We have not been able to find much infirmation about them. The missionaries may have operated some schools, but we are not sure if they were involved in the settlement schools. We have no idea of the type and level of instruction at these schools. We suspect that an important purpose of the settlement schools was to assist with King Leopolds propaganda that he was bringing civilization and Christianity to the Congo. The settlement schools were this very useful in promoting that image. We are not sure how many there were and the number of children that they educated. It would have been a very small part of the popultion, most Congo children had no access to education.

Belgian Colony

The Belgian Government after revelations about terrible astrocities being conducted in the Congo took over administration of the Congo Free Starte (1908). A extensive educational sysem was founded, mostly at the primary level. The Government had little to do with the schools. They were mostly run by missionary groups, especially the Castholic missiionaries. We think that the Belgian Government help finaznce the Catholic misdsionary system, but we do not have details at this time. In the period after World War II, about 10 percent of Congolese children were attending primary school, compared to just 3 percent in neighboring French Equatorial Africa. This was one of the lasrgest missionary school efforts outside of China. The rate of primary school attendance in the Congo was suprisingly one of the highest in Africa, One source claims tht it reached 56 percent (1959). This high attendance rte, however, is misleading. Most of the children in primary schools only attended for the first two grades. Less than 10 percent of the children completed the 6-year primar program--but this was relstively high by African standards. Only a few Congolese children advanced to the secondary level, let along to university studies. Belgian officials finally opened two universities (mid-1950s). At the time of independece, however, almost no Congolese students had university degrees. The colony was as a result almost totally unprepared for independence.








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