Intercultural Education

Research into issuses surrounding intercultural education

Ireland and Immigration

With levels of immigration rising in Ireland, the department of education has a responsibility to acknowledge and approach the issues it faces in regards to this new level of cultural diversity.

“This new reality is both a huge challenge and a great opportunity for modern Ireland… Integration is a complex and lengthy two-way process for the host county and for immigrants. Creating the conditions for integration requires an understanding of the very real barriers that exist for immigrants attempting to participate in Irish society.”

(Mary Robinson Race And Immigration In The New Ireland. 1st ed. University of Notre Dame Press, 2016.)

Here I take a look at challenges posed by

Language differences
Diversity in teacher training
Religious tradition
Racist or xenophobic behavior.

I also outline some progressive opportunities that the education system have the opportunity to embrace such as

Teaching cultural studies
Integration through sport
Intercultural festivals or celebrations
Initiatives to promote integration in schools such as the school Yellow Flag Programme

click for full essay

Irish Educational Policy Making

A review of the "Intercultural Education Guidlines" Document

Here I review the policy document “Intercultural Education in Post-Primary Schools: Guidelines for Schools”. The document was published by the NCCA IN 2006 and provides detailed set of guidelines to support intercultural education in post primary schools and classrooms.

The specific aims of the document are to identify and provide strategies for to integrate intercultural education into curriculum across post-primary schools, prescribing practical advice on whole school planning as well as individual subject areas.

I review the document in terms of the Irish policy making process under the headings

Research & Stakeholder Consultation
International Influence
Future Piloting & Feedback