Intercultural education in the Irish primary classroom

Abstract

As a result of rapidly increasing inward migration over the last twenty years, Ireland has changed to become a nation with a wealth of diversity. As a result, schools have had to ensure pupils from a range of diverse backgrounds are and feel included in the classroom. Intercultural Education (ICE) is one of the key responses to including and celebrating diversity in our schools. ICE strives to eliminate prejudice and racism by creating an awareness of the diversity that exists in our society. This is achieved through teaching about the normality of diversity and the benefits that can be derived from people having different viewpoints and cultural expressions (Department of Education and Science [DES] and National Council for Curriculum and Assessment [NCCA] 2005). ICE fosters open mindedness and an ability to resist stereotypes and it is ultimately about being able to interact and communicate positively and effectively with those different from ourselves (Deardorff 2009 ; Cushner and Chang 2015). Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is uniquely positioned within the Irish curriculum to provide time and space to develop many of the skills and attitudes necessary for developing intercultural competences in ourselves and our students in order to prepare for life in the diverse society of Ireland today.