The Importance of Multicultural Education in Dealing with Student Diversity

Abstract

Indonesia is a pluralistic country that is faced with challenges in social life. One of the social problems that often occurs in Indonesia is conflict between individuals or groups in the name of community, ethnic and cultural organizations, one of which is caused by intolerance. So, an educational approach is needed that aims to prevent conflict from an early age. Multicultural education is an educational approach that is oriented towards developing human potential to develop an attitude of respect for various kinds of diversity. This study is a literature review which aims to produce an analytical description of multicultural education in conceptual aspects, the internalization of multicultural education in elementary schools, and the role of multicultural education in efforts to prevent conflict from an early age in elementary schools. Data collection was carried out by searching for articles according to the topic using the Publish or Perish application. The results of this study show that the concept of multicultural education is the process of teaching an attitude of acceptance of diversity; Multicultural education in schools can be carried out with integration in all types of subjects; multicultural education plays a role in efforts to prevent conflict from an early age which can be realized in respecting the differences and diversity of students' backgrounds, social status, beliefs, and ethnicity, culture