How is multiculturalism and multilingualism approached in education policies?

It all depends on the situation, and it differs from country to country. If the languages are similar or belong to a same family , it could be easier. So be realistic and not be too ambitious. Bilingualism looks possible . Average people can acquire a working knowledge of a second language and perhaps for a third. The best is to pick a common lingual franca and emphasizes

the acquisition of a second language . It is generally aggregable that not all the people are likely to devote their time in learning languages . Material cultures can be comparatively easy to acquire or achieve if proper

attitudes are cultivated in schools . These have to be borne in mind when designing curriculum and extra-curriculum activities for an educational system .

Thank you for your comment. I agree with the point that it differs from country to country and that it is less complicated when the languages belong to the same linguistic grouping. Although bilingualism in schools and families is a successful reality in many countries and cultures, it is important to consider the different aspects of bilingual education. It should also be pointed out that a bilingual education is not the same as a multicultural education. The point of reflection in this discussion is to understand how multilingualism is a component of the strategies embedded in national educational policies. Although the subject has already been well studied, I think that there are still many gaps which are reflected in a poverty of learning such as the one mentioned in the last World Bank report [https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/education/brief/what-is-learning-poverty].

Rooney Pinto Education policies play a big role in reflecting a state's concerns about multicultural dynamics in schools. In many countries, education policies aim to embrace diversity and promote a tolerant and inclusive school environment. One way this is done is through promoting multilingualism as a component of national education strategies. This is because the school is like a microcosm of society, and it's important for students to experience and learn from the different cultural and linguistic backgrounds represented in their school community.

Governments around the world have taken various strategies to address this issue. Some have implemented language policies that support the teaching and learning of multiple languages, while others have provided resources and training for teachers to better support multilingual students. Research on this topic has also shown the positive impacts of multilingual education, such as improved cognitive development, better cultural awareness, and enhanced job opportunities. So, it's clear that promoting multilingualism in schools can have many benefits for students and society as a whole.

I agree with you ,thanks.

My suggestion is Bilingualism embedded in Multiculturalism especially in an Asian setting , where different languages of different families are used in a single community. There will be people interested in learning as many languages as possible, but there are also people who can either coup with two languages or need to cater for other interests, not languages alone . Be realistic.

Thank you all for your comments. The debate around the topic of multiculturalism and multilingualism is always very interesting. The impact of language as an inclusive or segregating mechanism in societies is an issue that remains highly topical in different societies. I remain with the initial provocation: How is multiculturalism and multilingualism approached in education policies?

Well, it is crucial to see not only what the policies suggesting, but how these suggestions are actually take place. In Greece, we can see a big distance (maybe that change in future) from the ideas that curriculums contain and what actually happened. Apparently, without financial support, adequate trained staff or merely acceptance of a ethnicity/language/origin -you name it- it makes harder the policies to take place.

Lastly, it is always nice to be critical when you a examine in policy and have in mind some political and historical facts that can suggest why those policies are taken, how realistic they are, who really favors and in which term etc. Maybe you will find that some countries are more inclusive with certain group of immigrants.

Nigeria has over 400 languages and multiple cultures. The common language is English. The policy encourages the use of English and the local language of the community. The curriculum takes cognizance of policy, effective use of language in communication and the relevance of culture to the subject in view.