A critical analysis of multicultural education with special reference to the values issue in the South African context

Abstract

The dissertation is concerned with the values issue in the South African context, a multicultural education situation. South Africa is a pluralistic society. Being pluralistic, means that the country is rich in different cultures, belief- and value systems. Different cultures have different value systems. If an institution is practising multicultural education, the question is, which values are to be used? If we say the institution should use the values of the majority culture, will that not disadvantage minority cultures? If minority cultures are undermined by neglecting their cultures won't that cause conflict between minority cultures and the majority culture? Each society that is implementing multicultural education should consider that there are common human values and particular values. In multicultural education particular values are important because they show how a particular group behaves and what its beliefs and culture are. Common values develop from particular values and teachers must emphasise common values without neglecting particular values, to encourage tolerance and acceptance between different groups.