The Impact of Multicultural Education on the Learning Experience and Academic Achievement of Ethnic Minority Students

Research Article
Open access

The Impact of Multicultural Education on the Learning Experience and Academic Achievement of Ethnic Minority Students

Shanai Jiang 1*
  • 1 Department of Business Administration, Korea University, Seoul, Korea    
  • *corresponding author Babam5317@naver.com
LNEP Vol.87
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-083-2
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-084-9

Abstract

This study explored the effects of multicultural education on ethnic minority students', especailly Chosŏnjok (Korean-Chinese) elementary school students, learning experiences and academic performance. Based on interviews with teachers and analysis of standardized exam scores, the research compares two schools in a minority-concentrated region, one that implements multicultural practices and one that does not. In the multicultural school, students not only excelled in the primary-to-secondary school test (小升初) but also showed more motivation and confidence in class. Interviews with teachers pointed to the inclusiveness of our curricula and bilingual strategies that encourage deeper participation, while noting that the lack of cultural relevance in the control school consistently resulted in disengagement. By contrasting the assimilationist Chinese policy paradigm with the inclusive ones in many international contexts, this paper argues that culturally responsive pedagogy that focuses on equity is critical to achieving in diverse education settings. The findings indicate that ethnic minority pupils in mainstream Chinese schools could continue to struggle academically and emotionally without such fundamental reform.

Keywords:

multicultural education, ethnic minority students, Chosŏnjok, culturally responsive teaching, China education policy

Jiang,S. (2025). The Impact of Multicultural Education on the Learning Experience and Academic Achievement of Ethnic Minority Students. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,87,52-57.
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References

[1]. Leibold, J. (2013). Ethnic Policy in China: Is Reform Inevitable? East-West Center Policy Studies, No. 68.

[2]. Banks, J. A. (2013). An Introduction to Multicultural Education (5th ed.). Pearson.

[3]. Sleeter, C. E. (2012). Confronting the Marginalization of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy. Urban Education, 47(3), 562–584.

[4]. Zhao, S. (2020). The Ideological Campaign in China’s Education System. Journal of Contemporary China, 29(121), 1–15.

[5]. Tsung, L., & Cruickshank, K. (2009). Mother Tongue and Bilingual Education in China. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 12(5), 549–563.

[6]. Human Rights Watch. (2021). China: Bilingual Education Undermines Minority Rights.

[7]. Postiglione, G. A. (2009). Education and Social Change in China: Inequality in a Market Economy. M.E. Sharpe.

[8]. OECD. (2018). Equity in Education: Breaking Down Barriers to Social Mobility. OECD Publishing.

[9]. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press.

[10]. Ladson-Billings, G. (1995). Toward a Theory of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. American Educational Research Journal, 32(3), 465–491.

[11]. Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior. Springer.

[12]. Gay, G. (2010). Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice (2nd ed.). Teachers College Press.

[13]. Banks, J. A. (2006). Race, Culture, and Education: The Selected Works of James A. Banks. Routledge.

[14]. Heugh, K. (2011). Theory and Practice in Language Policy: Recent Research in Multilingual Education in South Africa. Language and Education, 25(4), 307–318.


Cite this article

Jiang,S. (2025). The Impact of Multicultural Education on the Learning Experience and Academic Achievement of Ethnic Minority Students. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,87,52-57.

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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICEIPI 2025 Symposium: Reimagining Society: AI's Role in Cultural Transformation and Learning Environments

ISBN:978-1-80590-083-2(Print) / 978-1-80590-084-9(Online)
Editor:Kurt Buhring, Rick Arrowood
Conference date: 25 June 2025
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.87
ISSN:2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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References

[1]. Leibold, J. (2013). Ethnic Policy in China: Is Reform Inevitable? East-West Center Policy Studies, No. 68.

[2]. Banks, J. A. (2013). An Introduction to Multicultural Education (5th ed.). Pearson.

[3]. Sleeter, C. E. (2012). Confronting the Marginalization of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy. Urban Education, 47(3), 562–584.

[4]. Zhao, S. (2020). The Ideological Campaign in China’s Education System. Journal of Contemporary China, 29(121), 1–15.

[5]. Tsung, L., & Cruickshank, K. (2009). Mother Tongue and Bilingual Education in China. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 12(5), 549–563.

[6]. Human Rights Watch. (2021). China: Bilingual Education Undermines Minority Rights.

[7]. Postiglione, G. A. (2009). Education and Social Change in China: Inequality in a Market Economy. M.E. Sharpe.

[8]. OECD. (2018). Equity in Education: Breaking Down Barriers to Social Mobility. OECD Publishing.

[9]. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press.

[10]. Ladson-Billings, G. (1995). Toward a Theory of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. American Educational Research Journal, 32(3), 465–491.

[11]. Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior. Springer.

[12]. Gay, G. (2010). Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice (2nd ed.). Teachers College Press.

[13]. Banks, J. A. (2006). Race, Culture, and Education: The Selected Works of James A. Banks. Routledge.

[14]. Heugh, K. (2011). Theory and Practice in Language Policy: Recent Research in Multilingual Education in South Africa. Language and Education, 25(4), 307–318.