Opposition to Apartheid in Namibia

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Periodical article

Title:	Opposition to Apartheid in Namibia
Author:	Leu, Christopher A.
Year:	1979
Periodical:	Ufahamu
Volume:	9
Issue:	1
Pages:	111-137
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Namibia
Subjects:	political education apartheid Church colonialism Ethnic and Race Relations nationalism
Abstract:	The present paper deals with the development of the current Namibian educational system from the time of its missionary origins and examines the role and political significance of the churches, and the emergence of political consciousness and resistance among the contract labourers through their extensive involvement in the growing political economy. The notion of 'political education' (political indoctrination, civic training) ties these three areas, i.e. education, religion, and the contract labour sys tem, together. In Namibia, education for Africans difinitely includes 'political indoctrination' in the apartheid ideology of the white elite. It excludes any notion of 'civic training' in the sense of encouraging black Namibians to participate in their own political system. What takes the place of civic training and in fact counteracts the political indoctrination of apartheid is the widespread membership of the churches and the involvement of many Namibians in the system of contract labour. Notes.