Preschool teachers’ training and attitudes towards multicultural education in Malaysia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37134/saecj.vol7.1.2018Keywords:
multicultural education, early childhood, preschool teachers, teacher education, attitudesAbstract
Multicultural education is crucial in promoting cross-cultural understanding, recognition, and celebration of diversity in Malaysia-one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Preschool teachers play central roles in laying the foundation for cultural acceptance and positive racial interaction during early childhood. This study aims to explore Malaysian preschool teachers’ training and attitudes towards multicultural education. A quantitative questionnaire survey approach was used to gather the required data. The participants consisted of 1,067 preschool teachers from 267 private and government preschools providers in the country. Two validated instruments were employed to measure the variables in this study. The trainings received by the preschool teachers were measured by the Teachers’ Training Multicultural Education Scale (TTMES) while their attitudes towards multicultural education were gauged by the Multicultural Teaching Scale (MTS). Findings showed that preschool teachers were positive about the trainings that they received in relation to multicultural education. However, the extent to which they actually understood the concept of multiculturalism was doubtful in view that two thirds of the teachers demonstrated misconception about the fundamental principles of multicultural education when their attitudes towards multicultural education were examined. Significant differences were found in teachers’ training and attitudes according to the categories of preschools; teachers from mono-cultural preschools displayed the least positive attitudes towards multicultural education. Implications of the study were discussed in the paper.
Downloads
References
Abdullah, A.C., Mohd Yusof, N. & Ahmad, N. (2010). Beliefs, Attitudes and Concepts Held by Preschool Teachers Pertaining to Multicultural Education. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation, Madrid, 15-17 November 2010, pp. 243-253.
Abdullah, A. C., Najeemah Mohd Yusuf & Norlida Ahmad. (2010). Beliefs and attitudes held by preschool teacehrs pertaining to multicultural education. Proceeding in International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation, 243-253.
Abdullah, A. C., Nor Hashimah Hashim, Tang, K. W., Abdullah, M. N. L. Y., Najeemah Mohd Yusuf, & Norlida Ahmad. (2011).
Construction of a Model for Multicultural Education in Early Childhood through Investigating the State-ofPractice in Malaysia. Research University Grant, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Assaf, L. C., Garza, R., & Battle, J. (2010). Multicultural teacher education: Examining the perception, practices and coherence in one teacher preparation program. Teacher Education Quarterly, 37(2), 115-135.
Banks, J. A., Cookson, P., Gay, G., Hawley, W. D., Irvine, J. J., Nieto, S., Schofield, J. W., & Stephan, W. G. (2001). Diversity within unity: Essential principles for teaching and learning in multicultural society. Seattle: Centre for Multicultural Education, University of Washington.
Baldwin, S. C., Buchanan, A. M., & Rudisill, M. E. (2007). What teacher candidates learned about diversity, social justice, and themselves from service-learning experiences. Journal of Teacher Education, 54(4), 31527.
Brahim, T. K., & Syarif, S. M. (2010). Why multicultural education is need for the early childhood education in developing a new society. National Teacher Education Journal, 3(2), 139-152.
Bolgatz, J. (2005). Revolutionary talk: Elementary teacher and students discuss race in a social studies class. Social Studies, 96(6), 259-264. ‘Cuepacs concerned about female dominance’, The Star Online, 22 February 2010.
Curriculum Development Center. (2008). Early childhood care and education policy implementation review. Kuala Lumpur: Curriculum Development Center, Ministry of Education Malaysia.
Cochran-Smith, M. (2003). Standing at the crossroads: Multicultural teacher education at the beginning of the 21st Century. Multicultural Perspectives, 5(3), 3-11.
Denham, S. A., Bassett, H., Mincic, M., Kalb, S., Way, E., Wyatt, T., & Segal, Y. (2012). Social-emotional learning profiles of preschoolers’ early school success: A person-centered approach. Learning and individual Differences, 22(2), 178-189.
European Commission. (2010). How can teacher education and training policies prepare teachers to teach effectively in culturally diverse setting? Retrieved 15 March 2016 from
http://www.atee1.org/uploads/EUpolicies/pla_teaching_in_culturally_divers_settings.pdf
Glazier, J., Charpentier , A., & Boone, H. (2011). A Transformational Journey: A Framework for Pre-Service Teachers to Learn about Diversity through Service Learning. Journal for Civic Commitment, 17, 1-15.
Gorham, E. (2001). Multicultural teaching competence as perceived by elementary school teachers. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA.
Gorski, P. C. (2009). What we’re teaching teachers: An analysis of multicultural teacher education coursework syllabi. Teaching and Teacher Education, 25, 309-318.
‘Lea, V. (2004). The reflective cultural portfolio: Identifying public cultural scripts in the private voices of white student teacher. Journal of Teacher Education, 55(2), 117-127.
Lee, S., & Dallman, M.E. (2008). Engaging in a reflective examination about diversity: Interviews with three preservice teachers. Mulitcultural Education, 15(4), 36 – 45.
Ogletree, Q., & Patricia, L. (2010). Implementing multicultural practices in early childhood education. National Forum of Multicultural Issues Journal, 9(1), 1-9.
Pallant, J. (2001). SPSS Survival Manual: A Step Guide to Data Analysis using Windows (version 10). NSW: Allen and Unwin.
Phoon, H. S., Abdullah, M. N. L. Y, & Abdullah, A. C. (2012). Unveiling Malaysian Preschool Teachers’ Perceptions and Attitudes in Multicultural Early Childhood Education. Asia-Pacific Education Researcher Journal, 22(4), 427-438.
Sharifah, N., & Mohamed, N. A. (2011). Multicultural education in Malaysia perspective: instruction and assessment. International Association for Educational Assessment Conference, 23-28 November 2011, Manila Philippines.
Wayson, W. W. (1993). Multicultural Teaching Scale. Plain, Ohio: Synergetic Development.
Zeichner, K. M. (1993). Connecting genuine teacher development to the struggle for social justice. Journal of Education for Teaching, 19(1), 5-20.
