Navigating change and shaping missions: a study of Notre Dame College's educational aims within the Holy Cross congregation in Bangladesh

Abstract

The Congregation of Holy Cross has been working on evangelisation and education in Bangladesh for more than 170 years. This paper examines and discusses the educational aims of highly reputed institution of Holy Cross Congregation, Notre Dame College (NDC). It also examines how NDC negotiated historical changes – internal and external – and how those changes shaped its educational missions. This study is based on the examination of written documents – primary and secondary – and fieldwork involving oral history interviews of Holy Cross personnel, both local and foreign, who are/were involved either in the teaching or administration with NDC. Eighteen participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Data analysis involves a holistic examination of transcriptions, documents, and field notes. Key points from interviews, along with other data, are categorised thematically and chronologically. The paper argues that NDC had a distinctive aim as part of its elite education. It primarily aimed at developing and empowering the minority Catholic community in Bangladesh and developing and preparing clergies to establish a self-supporting and self-governing church in Bangladesh. Secondly, it aimed at the diffusion of the Christian spirit and morals to the elite youth of the country. The paper argues that as NDC went through significant changes to the political and educational shifts over the period, so did its educational aims. In addition, the paper argues that with regard to education policies and strategies, HC education at NDC had a different approach from that of education provided by the government. The paper illustrates how NDC has been seen as quite successful in its missions of raising native clergy and establishing a local church.