Internationalisation and Multiculturalism in Schools

Abstract

The increase in the population of foreigners residing in Malta and subsequently in ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity has had multiple implications, particularly with regard to the social composition of the community and its effect on social cohesion. The number of foreign minors has increased in the Maltese education system in the last few years, stressing the deep structural and socio-cultural changes in the Maltese society. This is a distinctively Maltese situation: this rate is not comparable with other countries where the “transformation” took a longer time. Another important aspect is the so-called polycentrism (i.e. the presence of a number of different nationalities within the classrooms). This is a peculiar element which intervenes in the daily life of schools, where managers and teachers have to develop strategies for managing a plethora of different socio-linguistic backgrounds in each classroom.