The rising shortcomings of traditional methods of education have introduced various learning approaches such as asynchronous learning, OBE, CBCS, and others. They aim to make the students ready for new opportunities and educate them in all aspects. One of them is multicultural education.
What is multicultural education?
Multicultural education is a learning approach in which the syllabus consists of histories, values, beliefs, texts, cultures and perspectives, and views from people from various cultural backgrounds and histories. In a classroom, the teachers can incorporate different ways of teaching and engaging the students using cultural diversities.
The main aim of promoting multicultural education is to understand the people around them and to promote educational equity among the students irrespective of their race, culture, background, and their native place. Moreover, the teachers can be conscious of any type of cultural discrimination happening in ways of teaching or any part of the syllabus that is being taught in the institute and correct it for the students studying there.
The central belief of multicultural educational practice is that students develop their habits, thoughts, and perspectives majorly depending on their cultural identity and being around people of the same culture and area. Hence, there is a need for such an educational approach that values and recognizes all the cultures of the students in the classroom.
It aims for equal representation for the students who come from cultures that have been historically unrepresented.
Why Do We Need a Multicultural Curriculum?
- The students get exposure to different cultures and diversities
- It encourages liberalism and individualism among students
- Students learning through multicultural education are more confident
- The classroom environment is more inclusive and accepting
- It encourages the students to develop critical thinking and creativity
- It improves the academic performance of the students
- It helps the students understand others’ ways of working
- It helps students develop a network of the students
How Can Schools Teach Multicultural Education?
Understand the Students-
The teachers must understand cultural diversity in the classroom. They should know what type and background of students are studying. Further, understanding the percentage of students from every background helps them see the problems faced by they. It also enables the teachers to plan lessons in a better way.
The teachers can go through previous records of students or ask about them from the previous teacher.
Conduct Open Discussions-
While teaching lessons, the teachers can incorporate various engagement activities which help the students to understand different cultures. Moreover, conducting debates and discussions talking about some topics can also help the students know more about them.
Open discussions also help the students to make friends with other students and develop confidence.
Cultural Food Swap-
The students can bring specialty food from their cultures to the classroom and all of them can share the food with other students. This will help them understand the food habits of other backgrounds and cultures and find similarities in food and cooking styles.
Further, this will help the students to bond together.
Conduct Group Activities-
The teachers can conduct activities by forming groups of students with different cultures and traditions. This can include projects, assignments, games, plays, and others. It helps the students understand others’ perspectives and ways of working.
It will help them build their network internationally and learn from other students.
Celebrate all Festivals-
Celebrating all the festivals can help the students understand various cultures and their celebrations. Further, it will help them understand the similarities, differences, and beliefs of various cultures.
Story-Telling-
Conduct storytelling sessions in the classrooms where the students can tell stories from their life experiences or problems faced by them. It helps them relate with other students and understand how they are similar to each other.
Shortcomings of Multicultural Education–
- Students tend to lose their own identity
- It tends to create family conflicts.
- Different cultures and values can influence students
- Consumes a lot of lecture time in the classroom
Multicultural education is a learning approach in which the syllabus consists of histories, values, beliefs, texts, cultures and perspectives, and views from people from various cultural backgrounds and histories. In a classroom, the teachers can incorporate different ways of teaching and engaging the students using cultural diversities.
The main aim of promoting multicultural education is to understand the people around them and to promote educational equity among the students irrespective of their race, culture, background, and their native place. Moreover, the teachers can be conscious of any type of cultural discrimination happening in ways of teaching or any part of the syllabus that is being taught in the institute and correct it for the students studying there.
The central belief of multicultural educational practice is that students develop their habits, thoughts, and perspectives majorly depending on their cultural identity and being around people of the same culture and area. Hence, there is a need for such an educational approach that values and recognizes all the cultures of the students in the classroom.
It aims for equal representation for the students who come from cultures that have been historically unrepresented.
Conclusion-
Multicultural education encourages appreciation for various cultures and diversities among the students. It helps them learn in multiple ways and meet people from various backgrounds. Teachers play an important role in introducing multiple cultures and methods to institutes.