Teachers' Awareness, Attitude and Practices of Multicultlism in Education. The case of Eshet Primary School in Addis Ababa
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Date
2008-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to explore teachers ' awareness, attitude and their practices
towards multiculturalism in education. To realize the objectives data was collected from
Eshet government primary school }i'om the principal, teachers and students through in
depth interviews, and observation. Relevant documentary sources were also analyzed.
The participants for intervinv were selected purposely based on their willingness,
cooperation, academic pelformance and responsibility. Fourteen participants i. e. the
school's principal, nine teachers and four students were interviewed.
The finding disclosed that teachers' awareness towards multiculturalism in
education was limited but encouraging. The study revealed that teachers' have good
under standing of students' diversity mainly in terms of culture, gender, economic status,
language and exceptionalities but, showed reservation to talk about their awareness of
ethnicity and religion. The reason for teachers ' reservation was, talking about ethnicity
and religion as potential to }i'agment the social cohesion of peoples. Teacher- student
relationship was good. Moreover, teachers' have desirable attitude to words diversity
and multiculturalism. On the other hand, teachers' practices to present the lesson from
diverse points of views, the techniques of leaching, teachers apply, their practice to use
teaching aids }i'om multicultural perspectives and efforts to create good relationship
among students of diverse cultures were no/ as much as expec/ed to be. Consequently, for
instance, there was lack of mutual respection among students during the classroom
in/eraction. Possible attempts have been made /0 identify those factors for teachers'
failure in practicing multiculturalism in education. These were absence of training,
giving due attention to coverage of the course and lack of understanding. Finally,
possible solutions were proposed to improve the observed state of affairs.
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