What does Diversity means and the implication on Education

Diversity is based on the idea that cultural identities should not be discarded or ignored but rather maintained and valued. The foundation of this is belief that every culture and race has made a substantial contribution to history. The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.

Cultural diversity envisages the multiplicity in a systemic perspective where each culture develops and evolves through contact with other culture. Our cultural background can sometimes make things difficult. The way I eat, think and talk about certain issues can be different from the way people from other country does and if we are all missed together in one classroom it may be difficult to understand each other: that is our different cultural values and attitudes can reflect on learning in both positive and negative attitude. Student with English as a second language sometimes do find it difficult to understand what the teacher is saying in English and they may not be able to communicate and interact effectively. Of the many implications of cultural diversity for global education, the issue of quality is of paramount importance. With such a diverse range of cultures represented and interacting in the global education environment, and this brings about the question of if there will be more quality in the learning process. However, many people remain opposed to the idea of cultural diversity awareness, while others often support it and yet have no clear idea of how it should be taught.

Parents and guardians should embrace and celebrate diversity values so as to be able help the children to overcome the fears and feelings of inferiority complex. They should be willing to help them to work on their learning skills and improve their academic performance