HOW DO EDUCATION SYSTEMS RESPOND TO EVER INCREASING CULTURAL DIVERSITY?
In every country, one of the prime functions of education has been that of building social cohesive society – one held together by shared values, purposes and activities. While economic growth often seems to be driving government policy, building social cohesion still remains one of the main purposes of public education, and particularly as our societies become ever more multicultural. Historically, at least four different approaches to cultural diversity have emerged: (a) assimilation: imposing a common nationality; (b) melting pot: gradually developing a national culture; (c) differentialist: developing a common nationality but minimising interaction with and among minority cultures; and (d) multiculturalism: developing unity within diversity. Until recently, most national education systems were designed to more or less impose one culture – usually that of the dominant race, class or political party or colonial power. While there has been almost as much backsliding as progress, count
