Cultural diversity : secondary school students' perspective

Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand cultural diversity through the eyes of students with different cultural backgrounds. Photography was used to help students share their views and express their feelings about cultural diversity within their school and their community. A group of Maltese and foreign secondary school students were given the opportunity to take photos of objects, buildings and other things related to culture and cultural diversity. With the use of photo elicitation students discussed important issues related to culture. This research concludes that secondary school students want to get to know more about other students who have diverse cultural backgrounds, in spite of the fact that some adults, as portrayed on the media and as they express themselves on online blogs, seem to be against or are afraid of the integration of people with culturally diverse backgrounds (especially Africans) within Maltese society. Students are interested in sharing their capabilities, experiences, views and everyday lives with other students who are portrayed as 'different' by society. Schools and policy makers need to put more effort into helping students (especially those attending schools where there is a lot of cultural diversity) to focus on similarities between themselves and culturally diverse students and celebrate the differences in order to ensure social inclusion and avoid racial discrimination. Dialogue, team work and mutual respect are important tools to help us live alongside each other, without fear and hatred and to help us solve social problems together in order to reduce conflicts and segregation.