Is racist attitude more evident in a rural or in an urban school context? : a case study of two primary state schools in Malta

Abstract

'Malta is facing the reality of having to grant accommodation and various other social benefits to illegal immigrants who are recognised as refugees. One of these social benefits in question is education. Education is also being offered to children whose parents have not been given refugee status yet. In my dissertation, I am going to look at whether the children of these illegal immigrants cum-refugees are being socially accepted in our classrooms or not. Furthermore, I will try to identify where racism, if present, tends to be more rampant: whether in a Primary School in an urbanised environment or in a Primary School in a rural environment.' The case studies of the State Primary Schools involved 40 hours of solid observation. The children in question were observed both during hours spent in the classroom and both in their playground during break-time. Semi-structured interviews where held with both academic staff and non-academic staff. Two interviews with the school's Headmasters were also held. The research outcomes show that even though racism is not so evident in those two schools, some subtle forms of it exist. This research suggests a number of recommendations that can be undertaken to keep this problem at bay.