Winning hearts and minds : character formation in mission education with special reference to Lovedale Missionary Institution

Abstract

Character formation was the most pervasive subject in the curriculum of mission schools despite the fact that it was nowhere to be found on the timetable. It was a major tool in the Christianising/civilising process with a view to forming compliant Christians and destroying students’ commitments to their traditional cultures. Lovedale Missionary Institution is studied as a major locus of the transformation of black students through its WHAM (winning hearts and minds) programme. This transformation affected their spiritual, social, cultural and educational development.