Challenges of Multiculturalism and Linguistic Pluralism in Nigerian School Setting

Abstract

Nigeria, like many other African countries, is made up of many cultural groups with diverse cultures making imperative the need to understand and accept each other‘s differences, in order to foster unity. There is no doubt that both the National Policy on Education as well as the cultural policy for Nigeria all point to the very important position of language in culture and in education, however, these policies do not adequately address the challenges faced in educational institutions situated in a culturally-diverse and multilingual society like Nigeria. Language and culture are inseparable entities forming an interdependent relationship within the multicultural and linguistic pluralistic classroom, which is both a melting pot of languages as well as a myriad of cultural backgrounds. Cultural connections and effective communication enables students to engage in social and interactive activities and allows them to become active participants of the multilingual classroom; hence, this paper addresses some of the major multicultural challenges that both teachers and students of multilingual classrooms face within the Nigerian school setting.

Keywords: Multiculturalism, Linguistic Pluralism, Challenges, Nigeria, School.

DOI: 10.7176/IKM/11-4-01

Publication date:May 31^st 2021