An evaluation of Australia's multicultural education program

Abstract

As a result of its large‐scale, post‐War immigration programme, the Australian government initiated in 1979 its Multicultural Education Program, which over a five year period financed 2,871 projects across Australia in an attempt to infuse the multicultural philosophy into the schooling system. An independent evaluation found that whilst the M.E.P. had resulted in many achievements it had not brought about substantial and lasting change. Successful implementation was hampered by:

i.	Administrative weaknesses;
ii.	Differences in programme aims and perceptions;
iii.	Limited theoretical framework and knowledge of teachers and
iv.	Serious problems in programmes to teach languages other than English.