Learning to live together: an exploration and analysis of managing cultural diversity in centre-based early childhood development programmes

Abstract

This paper explores how early childhood development practitioners running centre-based programmes with children aged 3–6 years address the needs of an increasing number of children from diverse cultural backgrounds in their care. This is important as early childhood is a critical moment in which to create a positive awareness about diversity. A qualitative and interactive research design was employed to identify what values, attitudes, knowledge and strategies practitioners and families believe are important to promote the social integration of children from diverse backgrounds. In-depth interviews and participant observation were used to collect data from 10 practitioners working in two urban settlements in two provinces of South Africa, while focus group interviews were carried out with the families of children attending two of the centres. The findings showed that an intercultural education approach provides the necessary tools to address challenges faced by practitioners including promoting social integration, respect for diversity and multilingualism, and the prevention of racist, xenophobic and discriminatory attitudes and actions.

Este trabajo explora la manera en que los educadores, trabajando en centros de educación infantil con niños entre tres y seis años atienden las necesidades de cada vez mayor número de niños de orígenes culturales y lingüísticos diversos. Esto es importante porque la etapa de la infancia es un momento crítico para crear una conciencia positiva sobre la diversidad. Se utilizó un diseño de investigación cualitativa e interactiva para identificar cuales son los valores, actitudes, conocimientos y estrategias que los educadores y las familias creen que son importantes para promover la integración social de los niños de diversos orígenes. Se utilizaron entrevistas en profundidad y observaciones participativas para recopilar datos de diez educadores de dos comunidades urbanas situadas en dos provincias de Sudáfrica. Asimismo, se entrevistaron las familias de los niños que asisten a dos de dichos centros. Los resultados mostraron que el modelo de educación intercultural proporciona las herramientas necesarias para hacer frente a los desafíos que los educadores enfrentan: la promoción de la integración social, el respeto a la diversidad y el multilingüismo, y la prevención de actitudes y acciones racistas, xenófobas y discriminatorias.

Keywords:

• cultural diversity
• intercultural education approach
• early childhood development
• practitioners
• South Africa

Acknowledgement

The author thanks M. Rius and the reviewers whose contributions greatly strengthened this article. This research was supported by a scholarship from the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo, Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperación.

Notes

1. Sue. 2008. Interview by Jaclyn Murray (J.M). Tape Recording. 6 March (C1).

2. 31°53’49.38”S, 26°52’24.61”E.

3. 33°55’45.14”S, 18°25’37.35”E.

4. Lizaan. 2008. Interview by J.M. Tape Recording. 13 May (C9).

5. Janet. 2008. Interview by J.M. Tape Recording. 22 May (C10).

6. ‘Race’ is a social construct, however, for clarity I use the following terminology when referring to ‘racial’ groups: ‘black’ Africans, Asians (people of Indian and Chinese descent), ‘coloureds’ (people of mixed descent) and ‘whites’ (both English and Afrikaans speakers).

7. Chwayita (family member). 2008. Interview by J.M. Tape Recording. 6 May (C8).

8. Nelson (family member). 2008. Interview by J.M. Tape Recording. 6 May (C8).

9. Boniswa (family member). 2008. Interview by J.M. Tape Recording. 19 March (C1).

10. Joy. 2008. Interview by J.M. Tape Recording. 10 April (C5).

11. Lizaan 2008. Interview by J.M. Tape Recording. 13 May (C9).

12. Azande (family member). 2008. Interview by J.M. Tape Recording. 19 March (C1).

13. Sue 2008. Interview by J.M. Tape Recording. 6 March (C1).

14. Beth. 2008. Interview by J.M. Tape Recording. 1 April (C4).

15. Sara. 2008. Interview by J.M. Tape Recording. 22 April (C7).

16. Adele 2008. Interview by J.M. Tape Recording. 19 March (C3).