Multicultural Education and Student Tolerance in Indonesia

Authors

  • Darmin Tuwu Social Welfare Science Study Program, Halu Oleo University, Kendari

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55927/modern.v5i5.78

Keywords:

Cultural Diversity, Multicultural Education, Student Tolerance, Secondary Schools, Inclusive Education

Abstract

Cultural diversity in schools makes tolerance an important social value for students in multicultural societies. This study aims to examine the role of multicultural classrooms in encouraging student tolerance in secondary school. This study uses a qualitative approach with a survey–case study method. Data were collected in several secondary schools in Kendari City, Indonesia, involving 30 informants consisting of students, teachers, school leaders, parents, and education stakeholders. Data collection techniques included qualitative surveys, in-depth interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis. The findings suggest that secondary schools serve as important social spaces where daily interactions between culturally diverse students contribute to the development of tolerance, empathy, and mutual respect. This research contributes to the literature on multicultural education by highlighting the importance of classroom interactions and inclusive educational practices in promoting tolerance among high school students in a multicultural context

References

Abacioglu, C. S., Epskamp, S., Fischer, A. H., & Volman, M. (2023). Effects of multicultural education on student engagement in low-and high-concentration classrooms: the mediating role of student relationships. Learning environments research, 26(3), 951-975.

Aramudin, A., & Susanti, R. H. (2024). Empathy and tolerance cultivation in primary students through local context-based social science lessons. Lentera Pendidikan: Jurnal Ilmu Tarbiyah dan Keguruan, 27(1), 191-206.

Cancino, M., & Nuñez, I. (2023). Efl teachers' perceptions towards multicultural classrooms: The role of intercultural sensitivity in developing intercultural communicative competence. REFLections, 30(3), 620-646.

Chaudhary, A. A. (2018). Exploring the impact of multicultural literature on empathy and cultural competence in elementary education. Remittances Review, 3(2), 183-205.

Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.

Denzin, N. K. (2017). The research act: A theoretical introduction to sociological methods. Routledge.

Elias, A., & Mansouri, F. (2023). Towards a critical transformative approach to inclusive intercultural education. Journal of multicultural discourses, 18(1), 4-21.

Fani, N., & Akhtar, S. (2024). Enhancing Empathy and Cultural Awareness through Multicultural Literature in Elementary Classrooms. Unpublished. DOI: https://doi. org/10.13140/RG, 2(20811.20002).

Harris, A. (2009). Shifting the boundaries of cultural spaces: Young people and everyday multiculturalism. Social identities, 15(2), 187-205.

Jaffé, M. E., Rudert, S. C., & Greifeneder, R. (2019). You should go for diversity, but I'd rather stay with similar others: Social distance modulates the preference for diversity. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 85, 103881.

Jain, R. (2019). Inclusive pedagogy. Writing & Pedagogy, 11(1), 127-150.

Janmaat, J. G., & Keating, A. (2019). Are today's youth more tolerant? Trends in tolerance among young people in Britain. Ethnicities, 19(1), 44-65.

Kaur, A., Awang-Hashim, R., & Noman, M. (2017). Defining Intercultural Education for Social Cohesion in Malaysian Context. International Journal of Multicultural Education, 19(2), 44-60.

Koriakina, A. A., Tretyakova, T. V., IGNATIEV, V. P., & OLESOVA, S. G. (2019). Formation of tolerance in multicultural educational environment. Revista Espacios, 40(09).

Kumar, D. H. (2024, October). The Impact Of Multicultural Literature On Intercultural Sensitivity And Social Cohesion Among University Students: A Psychological And Educational Perspective. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Educational, Cultural and Societal Approaches in Literature, Communication, & Translation (ECSA_LCT 2024).

Kvale, S., & Brinkmann, S. (2015). Interviews: Learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.

Matthew B. Miles, A. Michael Huberman, J. S. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: a methods sourcebook.

Meetoo, V. (2020). Negotiating the diversity of 'everyday’multiculturalism: Teachers’ enactments in an inner city secondary school. Race Ethnicity and Education, 23(2), 261-279.

Negara, A. C. K. (2025). Enhancing Multicultural Values Through Pedagogical Approaches in Islamic Education for Senior High Schools. Didaktika: Jurnal Kependidikan, 14(2 Mei), 3169-3180.

Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods (4th ed.). Sage Publication Inc.

Robbin, R., & Junia, C. (2025). Multicultural learning strategies in enhancing intercultural tolerance in the school environment. Didaskalos Journal, 1(1), 25-32.

Schwarzenthal, M., Schachner, M. K., Juang, L. P., & Van De Vijver, F. J. (2020). Reaping the benefits of cultural diversity: Classroom cultural diversity climate and students’ intercultural competence. European journal of social psychology, 50(2), 323-346.

Siregar, K. E. (2024). Interaction Between Education And Cultural Diversity: A Literature Review Of The Implications Of Multiculturalism In Learning Context. INTERACTION, 28, 29.

Sorkos, G., & Hajisoteriou, C. (2021). Sustainable intercultural and inclusive education: Teachers’ efforts on promoting a combining paradigm. Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 29(4), 517-536.

Sukardi, J. S., Hanum, F., & Efianingrum, A. (2025). Multicultural education patterns in promoting tolerance among high school students. Jurnal Cakrawala Pendidikan, 44(3), 701-713.

Trolian, T. L., & Parker III, E. T. (2022). Shaping students’ attitudes toward diversity: Do faculty practices and interactions with students matter?. Research in Higher Education, 63(5), 849-870.

Yin, R. K. (2014). Case Study Research: Design and Methods. SAGE Publications, Inc. Kindle ed.

Zambeta, E. (2008). Religion, modernity and social rights in European education. Intercultural Education, 19(4), 297-304.

Zhang, J. (2019). Educational diversity and ethnic cultural heritage in the process of globalization. International Journal of Anthropology and Ethnology, 3(1), 7.

Downloads

Published

2026-10-23

How to Cite

Darmin Tuwu. (2026). Multicultural Education and Student Tolerance in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Contemporary Multidisciplinary Research, 5(5), 880–897. https://doi.org/10.55927/modern.v5i5.78