Abstract

Diversity represents a challenge and an opportunity for education. It is a challenge becausepolicymakers and educators are called to respond to the claims of disadvantaged minoritiesfor whom education represents a key to greater opportunity and parity with other groups insociety. It is an opportunity because a society that learns to live with diversity is likely toachieve faster rates of economic growth and social development—if only by avoiding ethnicconflict. The accommodation of diversity in the educational system is also fully consistentwith (and may even contribute to) the “outcome-based” educational practices thatresearchers agree are needed if societies are to achieve sustainable social and economicdevelopment in our globalized world.Combined, education for diversity has the potential to propel growth and progresswhile reducing and perhaps preventing social conflict. Recent research points the waytoward reaching that potential through changes in curriculum and textbook selection and,most important of all, through more effective policies on the recruitment, training, andretention of teachers.