The contribution of the Holy Cross Sisters to the educational empowerment of women in the Western province of Zambia
Date
2015
Authors
Ilubala-Ziwa, Judith L
Cheyeka, Austin M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
School of Education
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to trace the contribution made by the Holy Cross Sisters (HCS) to
the educational empowerment of women in Western Province, with reference to perceptions of
former pupils of the Sisters. The study focused on examining how the Sisters have promoted the
educational empowerment of women in the colonial and post-colonial periods. To do this, the
researcher interacted with sixteen former pupils of Holy Cross Secondary School (HCSS) and
one former pupil of Sancta Maria School, a school which was run by the HCS in Lukulu District
before it was shifted to Malengwa where it finally became known as HCSS. A qualitative
approach to data collection was used. The methods employed were one-on-one interviews and
focus group discussions (FGDs). The research instruments used in the study were semi
structured interview guide for FGDs, one-on-one interviews and observation guide.
The study population consisted of all former pupils of HCSS and Sancta Maria School. The study
captured a total of seventeen participants. A small sample was chosen to allow for the use of indepth
interviews meant to capture the perceptions of the selected former pupils. The major
findings of the study were that the former pupils of the HCS perceived the Sisters to be their
major agents of education for empowerment. The HCS empowered women educationally through
the provision of school education, following the Ministry of Education (MoE) designed
curriculum, the hidden curriculum, hard work, good conduct and their emphasis on spirituality.
Description
Keywords
Educational empowerment--Holy Cross sisters--women--Zambia