Diversity has become an important subject worldwide and is now a big aspect of the education system as well. Either in the school curriculum or as a specialized subject in higher education, children are being taught to embrace diversity in an attempt to make this world a better place.
For the unknown, diversity is accepting people who don’t belong to the same ethnicity, gender, color, or religion as us and treating them as equals. In the US alone, only 40% of undergraduate students today are of color, and the rest are from diverse color families.
If you wish to know how different education systems around the world are opening up to diversity, then this article will give you some inspirational pointers!
Intellectual development
Probably the biggest advantage of teaching diversity to students is developing their intellectual abilities. This helps them to enhance their cultural backgrounds and learn more about other people’s cultures, preferences, belief systems, and habits. Most importantly, intellectual development in school and college education systems makes students more accepting of each other.
By understanding global issues like poverty in different countries, its outcomes, human rights and their fights, and even climate change, students can be much more aware and sensitive to people’s daily struggles.
Development of a diverse curriculum
To enrich children’s minds with different flavors of the world, the curriculum itself needs to be constantly updated and must include as many fields of interest as possible, such as art, literature, and science.
However, it can be difficult to incorporate so many different things under one curriculum, especially if the students hail from different parts of the world. This is why some of the best virtual schools act as a medium between teachers and students and professionals through which they can connect with each other in the comfort of their homes.
Diverse hiring norms
Simply teaching students about diversity isn’t enough; the organization itself needs to step up and prove that it is also embracing diversity. One great way to lead by example for students is to accept diverse hiring norms.
Today, numerous organizations have already started hiring teachers who belong to minority communities, be it in terms of gender, race, or physical abilities. When students see a teacher from another community being appreciated for their hard work and talent, the children belonging to the same minor communities look up to them as inspiration. There are some online private schools that can also help you connect with world-level professionals or experts and are just as sensitive to people from all kinds of backgrounds.
Organizing intercultural events
Most schools today have at least one intercultural event around the world. And this norm isn’t just restricted to schools or colleges. Even workplaces around the globe have different versions of “Diversity Day.”
In schools, most notably, students are asked to dress up in their native clothes or bring a dish that is native to their culture. Through visual aids, dances, songs, or different activities, students become a part of a more inclusive environment. Many schools also invite global speakers who educate students on embracing diversity and being respectful toward other communities.
Encouraging open conversations
No matter how much we dislike it, there are so many stories of people from different communities being subjected to cultural hatred. To abolish any further disparity in diversity, education systems today are encouraging open and honest conversations.
For example, a student of color in a school filled with white students may have facilities like talking to a teacher or a school counselor of color.
Talking encouragingly about sensitive topics can be daunting at first. Still, it’s important to acknowledge the history of each country, something that so many institutions are adding to their coursework.
Special assistance to students
Since the world has understood the importance of embracing diversity, educational institutions are now providing special assistance to students through scholarships, grants, or similar privileges. For example, a school can have a wheelchair ramp or special lifts installed for students with mobility disabilities. Or, blind students can be provided with books written in Braille.
However, it’s important to note that these special forms of assistance should always be used encouragingly and sensitively and not to make the student feel awkward or embarrassed.
Guidelines for teachers
While it’s true that diversity needs to be included in the education curriculum, it’s ultimately the teachers who need to practice it with students. This is why teachers, too, have their own rulebooks and guidelines on how to behave and treat students hailing from different communities.
As a teacher or professor, it becomes crucial to show students that everyone in their class is equal and deserves the same kind of respect, irrespective of their differences in diversity. Teachers also undergo various training programs on diversity classes, sensitivity, and body language.
Conclusion
One major milestone in embracing diversity in educational institutions today has been the adaptation of milestone technology in the form of online classes, text-to-speech software, innovative videos, and other online learning platforms. Therefore, it’s important to balance both technology and diversity in the classrooms to ensure every student is an equal part of the system.
