Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies: Home

Abstract:
The significance of the educational endeavours of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa can fruitfully be demonstrated through the parable of the elephant and 'six blind men'. Each of the blind men was asked to define an elephant, and because they were blind each separately touched the head, the leg, tail, the tasks, the belly and ears. Each of the blind men concluded that what they had touched was the elephant. The meaning of this parable becomes apparent when applied to the Presbyterian missionary experience in South Africa. Critics of missionary work have lurched on one aspect of their work and prematurely concluded that the missionaries did little. This article approaches the endeavours of the Presbyterian missionaries from a holistic dimension by looking at their various aims, work on education and health among the Blacks in South Africa. The article concludes by critically evaluating the overall role of the Presbyterian missionaries in the establishment and consolidation of black education in South Africa.

Keywords: educational endeavours, missionary schools, mission hospitals, western civilization, christianization

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