Detecting Barriers to Multicultural Education in South African Schools

Abstract

Schools in South Africa became more diverse with the emergence of democratic rule in 1994. Multicultural education was introduced as a strategy to bring various ethnic groups together and to grant them a platform where they could share their beliefs and cultural experiences towards a better understanding of each other and for the betterment of their country support. Sadly, the goal of uniting and sharing cultural beliefs is still a problem in South Africa as it remains one of the more racially and ethnically divided nations in the world. However, little has been written about the various factors hampering the implementation of multicultural education in schools. This chapter aims to explore and contribute to debates on multicultural education as a tool for social cohesion and identify the various barriers to the effective implementation of multicultural education.