EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Intercultural education at primary schools

Intercultural education at primary schools - Utrecht

Introduction

Primary schools in Utrecht are working to give children the opportunity to get to know each other's cultural and ethnic background. Participating schools have developed a team vision and working method regarding intercultural education and have written this into the school curriculum.

Problem

How can primary schools give structural attention to intercultural education and in this way better prepare their children to participate in a multicultural society?

Description

Different activities are organised at schools, often in the form of a project week. The objective of the project week is to increase knowledge of different cultures using a theme. In addition, meeting activities are organised, such as an exchange between schools and a joint school camp. Parents are actively involved in a special school evening. Separate study meetings are held for staff. Finally, all the schools work together on a ‘World Newspaper’ and a ‘World Party’.

Approach

The first phase focuses on orientation and the development of a vision and plan. The Wereldschool project is then worked out at school level by a work group of at least two members of staff, wherever possible supplemented by parents.

The Multicultural Institute Utrecht provides 50 hours of supervision per primary school per school year and supplies the educational material and methods. The primary schools receive an activity budget to be spent on Wereldschool activities. At least one study afternoon is spent on the Wereldschool team vision. At the end of this, the experiences and results of the Wereldschools are shared with the other primary schools during a city conference.

Results

In the first year, all seven schools were designated as 'Wereldschool' (World School).
In the first year, approx. 2,000 children were reached and 250 parents were involved. Approx. 150 staff played an active part in the organisation.
By focusing a lot of attention on the provision of information, the project increased awareness of interculturalism throughout the city.
After the first year, the project was continued at the provincial level; there are now fifteen designated Wereldschools in the province of Utrecht.
In the 2005-2006 school year, the project will be further expanded with another seven schools becoming candidate Wereldschools.

Resources used

The project is financed by the City of Utrecht, the province of Utrecht and the Coordination of Integration Policy and Ethnic Minorities Directorate of the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

Contact info

Multicultureel Instituut Utrecht (Utrecht Multicultural Institute)
J. van Dulmen, tel. +31 30 2313833

Project start date

01/03/2003

Links

Multicultureel Instituut Utrecht (in Dutch)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Education

Keywords

Primary education