'So that tomorrow would be better for us:' Developing French-funded Catholic schools in Dahomey and Senegal, 1946-1975.
[Thesis]
Rachel Aliza Kantrowitz
Cooper, Frederick
New York University
2015
284
Committee members: Chapman, Herrick; Foster, Elizabeth; Mann, Gregory; Zimmerman, Jonathan
Place of publication: United States, Ann Arbor; ISBN=978-1-321-95433-3
Ph.D.
History
New York University
2015
In the wake of the Second World War, French officials sought to reform empire in order to save it. In 1946 they created FIDES-the French acronym for Investment Fund for Economic and Social Development-as part of their reform efforts. Through FIDES, the French government built roads, hospitals, schools, and a range of other infrastructural improvements in its colonies, including in West Africa. Similar goals were pursued after decolonization, under the rubric of Coopération. This dissertation is a study of the impact of FIDES and Coopération funding on education in two West African territories that had more developed educational systems relative to other French territories in the region: Senegal and Dahomey (present day Benin). It analyzes how education shaped and was shaped by shifting stakes in Franco-African relations from FIDES's founding in 1946 until 1975. Despite the fact that West Africa was multi-religious, and territories like Senegal were majority Muslim, French officials chose to employ French Catholic missionaries to run many of the schools it supported. This choice revealed both the privileging of French language and culture and French fears of foreign influence. FIDES and Coopération educational funding steadily increased, and by the 1970s a majority of the budget was dedicated to education.
Religious history; African history; European history; Education history; Religious education
Philosophy, religion and theology;Social sciences;Education;Benin;Catholic church;Economic development;Education;France;Senegal