Teachers’ approaches to multicultural education in Georgian classrooms

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the multicultural education strategies employed by primary school teachers in Georgia.

Design/methodology/approach

In-depth interviews with 65 primary school teachers were used. The interviews were analyzed using the theoretical framework of multicultural educational approaches defined by James Banks. The approaches used by Georgian teachers were classified into four approaches to multicultural education: contributions, additive, transformation and social action approaches.

Findings

The research revealed that the majority of teachers use the contributions and additive approaches to multicultural education. The use of the transformation approach by teachers is very rare and only happens if school textbooks, as well as exercises and assignments in the textbooks, provide this opportunity. The social action approach to multicultural education has not been used in primary grades in Georgia. The research revealed that some teachers reject diversity in their classroom as well as the necessity of developing their students’ intercultural sensitivity. These teachers have an informed and conscious approach to not using multicultural approaches in the teaching process. This approach is named by the author as the “inactive action approach”, which is specific to Georgia and is widely used in primary school classes.

Practical implications

The study has scientific and practical importance. The findings of this study also have practical importance. They can be used for the implementation of teacher education and training programs in Georgia. Consideration of these findings will contribute to the implementation of the National Objectives of General Education and the National Curriculum of Georgia.

Originality/value

This study makes contribution to the development of the field of multicultural education in Georgia.

Citation

Tabatadze, S. (2015), "Teachers’ approaches to multicultural education in Georgian classrooms", Journal for Multicultural Education, Vol. 9 No. 4, pp. 248-262. https://doi.org/10.1108/JME-07-2014-0031