Located in the Mvog-Ada district, in the heart of the parish area of Notre-Dame des Victoires Cathedral in Yaoundé, College Notre-Dame des Victoires was founded in 1958: the premises that housed the first students of this college were used for primary school since 1955.
At the origin of this institution are four nuns of the Congregation of Serving Sisters of the Holy Heart of Mary: SS. Elisabeth of the Trinity, Saint Marcelle, Mary of the Apostles and Françoise d'Alverne.
The Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary was born of the missionary spirit of its founder, the Reverend Father François-Jean-Baptiste Delaplace, C.S.Sp.
Director of the Work of the Holy Family founded in Paris in 1855 for the evangelization of families tried by poverty, Father Delaplace was struck by the sad state of families reduced to unemployment and misery of all kinds. He called on Jeanne-Marie Moisan, whose spirit of faith and generous devotion he had noticed. The project of Father Delaplace, initially conceived as a charitable work, became, by the plan of God, a new religious Congregation.
The Congregation develops and knows a real expansion, in France (1860), in the United States (1889) and in Canada (1892). In 1902, it was officially recognized by the Church. Today, the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary continue the work of the Founders in Cuba (1950), Cameroon (1953), Argentina (1963), Congo (DRC) and Peru (2015).
The four founders of the College : Elisabeth de la trinité ,Sainte Marcelle,Marie des Apôtres ,Françoise d'Alverne.
In Cameroon, the young girl, in most cases, had no educational future because of traditional conceptions of her status as a woman or because of the limited material and financial means of her parents.
In view of this situation, the primary objective of the École Ménagère Notre-Dame des Victoires (1958-1966) was to provide additional training to the young girl who, after primary school, could not access secondary education. .
From 1958 to 1960, the institution endeavored to give young girls practical training and to prepare them for their future role as wives and mothers.
From 1960 to 1965, a steno-typist section opened. This allows young girls to enter professional life as office workers. But this section was closed in 1965. The school changed status and became a technical education college, in the sewing and clothing industry sectors. This change in status is the consequence of the demands of students who needed training sanctioned by an official diploma.
Class of Shorthand-Typist, 1963
The evolution of the college is dazzling. New buildings are constructed. The teaching staff is increasing. From 4 teachers including one Cameroonian in 1966, it increased to 20, including 19 Cameroonians during 1989-1990. class. The average of 35 students per class remains rigorous in order to safeguard the quality of teaching. In 1990, the college has 253 students, while in 1966 it had 56.
For the sake of guaranteeing the renewal and continuity of missionary and educational works, the Sisters Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary have undertaken the formation of Cameroonian nuns. The congregation has been administering College Jean Tabi since 1975.
Sources : - Jean Paul Messina
- Permanent Secretariat of Catholic Education.