Attention to cultural diversity: the challenge of school organizations

Abstract

Cultural diversity is a characteristic of our society reflected in our schools. The educational institution, born with a purpose of assimilation, is now challenged to give an answer to the increase of cultural diversity. Besides.the "dominant culture", minority ethnic pupils coming frorn different countries have the right to be able to identify their cultural attributes in the curriculurn and in the school organization. The aim of this article is to elicit the reflection about a daily and ernerging issue which rnanifests through the increase presence of ethnic rninorities, various religions and diversity of cultures in our educational systern. First of all, we try to gather sorne of the key issues of our social and cultural realities. What are the new educational challenges in this era characterized by cultural diversity? Secondly, we will develop the role of educational organization in order to give an answer to cultural diversity and we will analyze sorne of the solutions given to this phenornenon. Thirdly, we will offer sorne outlines about the educational rnodel for intercultural schools. Lastly, in spite of not having rnany irnrnediate answers, we will conclude with the hopeful cry, anoiherschool is possible!".

Keywords

• Diversidad cultural
• minorías étnicas
• organización escolar
• escuelas interculturales.