TEACHER PERCEPTION OF MULTICULTURAL CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT IN SINGKAWANG: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN INDONESIA’S MOST TOLERANT CITY
Abstract
Purpose: Teachers' attitudes towards multicultural classroom management determine civic education in multicultural classrooms. Therefore, this study aims to examine teachers' perceptions of managing multicultural classrooms in Singkawang, a city known for its high tolerance in Indonesia.
Methodology: A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews to collect data from eight teachers (four male and four female) aged 32 to 52 years, representing Dayak, Melayu, and Javanese ethnicities. These teachers, working at primary and junior high schools, taught subjects such as Indonesian language, general classroom topics, and science. Purposive sampling was used to select participants, ensuring diverse cultural representation. Data collection occurred over October-November 2024, with interviews conducted in Indonesian and transcribed for thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke's framework.
Findings: Thematic analysis revealed six major themes: flexible classroom management, development of tolerance values, development of unity values, development of equitable services, utilization of local culture and wisdom, and Collaboration between students with different cultural backgrounds. Teachers reported the importance of adapting pedagogical approaches and curriculum content to accommodate diverse cultural needs, creating an inclusive and respectful learning environment.
Significance: This study benefits educators, school administrators, and policymakers by providing insights into effective strategies for managing multicultural classrooms. It offers a practical framework to enhance cultural understanding, tolerance, and unity, contributing to the broader goals of multicultural education and social cohesion in diverse communities.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Abdullah, A. C. (2009). Multicultural Education in Early Childhood: Issues and Challenges. Journal of International Cooperation in Education, 12(1), 159–175.
Anatolievna, A., Vasilievna, T., & Gavrilievna, S. (2016). Formation of tolerance in multicultural educational environment. 40(9).
Aricindy, A., Wasino, W., & Atmaja, H. T. (2023). The Importance of Cared for Diversity through Multicultural Education at School Medan. Journal of Educational Social Studies, 12(2), 93–100. https://doi.org/10.15294/jess.v12i2.57822
Atmaja, D. S., Fachrurazi, F., Satriawan, L. A., Asmanto, E., & Sukardi, B. (2023). Islam and the Struggle for Multiculturalism in Singkawang, West Kalimantan: Local Ulama, Theological-Economic Competition and Ethnoreligious Relations. Ulumuna, 27(1), 172–200. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v27i1.516
Azra, A. (2018). Cultural Pluralism In Indonesia: Continuous Reinventingof Indonesian Islam in Local, National and Global Contexts. Asia Pacific Journal on Religion and Society, 2(2), 56–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.24014/apjrs.v2i2.6399
Banks, J. A. (2014). An introduction to multicultural education (5. ed). Pearson Education.
Banks, J. A. (2015). Cultural Diversity and Education (0 ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315622255
Bedewy, S. E. (2024). Exploring transdisciplinary, technology-assisted, and architectural modelling STEAM practices through a cultural lens. European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 12(2), 211–235. https://doi.org/10.30935/scimath/14304
Berg, B. L., & Lune, H. (2017). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences (Ninth edition). Pearson.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2022). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. SAGE.
Bugno, L. (2018). Clues to the wind’s direction: Sailing on teachers’ beliefs about cultural diversity : results from a semi-structured interview in the Italian context. Studia paedagogica, 4, [129]-144. https://doi.org/10.5817/SP2018-4-7
Cantle, T. (2016). 6. The Case for Interculturalism, Plural Identities and Cohesion. Dalam N. Meer, T. Modood, & R. Zapata-Barrero, Multiculturalism and Interculturalism (hlm. 133–157). Edinburgh University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474407106-008
Dolan Mullen, P., & Reynolds, R. (1978). The Potential of Grounded Theory for Health Education Research: Linking Theory and Practice. Health Education Monographs, 6(3), 280–294. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019817800600302
Ernawati, T. (2024). Exploration of Culturally Responsive Teaching and Problem-Based Learning in The Diverse Learning of Prospective Science Teachers. International Journal of Religion, 5(3), 353–365. https://doi.org/10.61707/t1bg2083
Firdaus, R. A., Sunarto, S., Cahyono, H., Asmaroini, A. P., & Umam, M. K. (2023). Models of Multicultural Education in Efforts to Grow Tolerance in the Guidance Center of SMP An Nahdloh Malaysia. QALAMUNA: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial, Dan Agama, 15(2), 887–896. https://doi.org/10.37680/qalamuna.v15i2.3128
Guo, Y. (2015). ‘Unlearning Privileges’: Interrupting Pre-Service Teachers Deficit Thinking of Immigrant Students with Origins in the South. Cultural and Pedagogical Inquiry, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.18733/C3XW25
Hakim, A. R., Syafi’i, A., & Fauzia, E. (2022). Building Bridges of Tolerance Through Multicultural Education in Junior High Schools. QALAMUNA: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial, Dan Agama, 14(2), 1061–1072. https://doi.org/10.37680/qalamuna.v14i2.3765
Hanpalam, T., Sutimin, L. A., & Rejekiningsih, T. (2021). Pancasila As Affirmations of Multicultural Education In Indonesia. International Journal of Educational Research.
Hashmi, F. K., Hassali, M. A., Khalid, A., Saleem, F., Aljadhey, H., Babar, Z. U. D., & Bashaar, M. (2017). A qualitative study exploring perceptions and attitudes of community pharmacists about extended pharmacy services in Lahore, Pakistan. BMC Health Services Research, 17(1), 500. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2442-6
Hefner, R. W. (2001). The Politics of Multiculturalism. University of Hawai’i Press; JSTOR. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt6wqpj7
Japar, M., Fadhillah, D. N., Komin, W., Kardiman, Y., Triyanto, T., & Sarkadi, S. (2022). The implementation of multiculturalism learning model based on local wisdom in civic education. Jurnal Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan, 19(2), 186–195. https://doi.org/10.21831/jc.v19i2.53547
Jentoft, N., & Olsen, T. S. (2019). Against the flow in data collection: How data triangulation combined with a ‘slow’ interview technique enriches data. Qualitative Social Work, 18(2), 179–193. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325017712581
Kitzinger, J. (1995). Qualitative Research: Introducing focus groups. BMJ, 311(7000), 299–302. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.311.7000.299
Mariyono, D. (2024). Indonesian mosaic: The essential need for multicultural education. Quality Education for All, 1(1), 301–325. https://doi.org/10.1108/QEA-05-2024-0042
Marzuki. (2020). Multicultural education in salaf pesantren and prevention of religious radicalism in Indonesia. Cakrawala Pendidikan, 39(1), 12–25. https://doi.org/10.21831/cp.v39i1.22900
Media, K. C. (2024, Januari 30). Singkawang, Kota Paling Toleran di Indonesia 3 Tahun Berturut-turut. KOMPAS.com. https://lestari.kompas.com/read/2024/01/30/192054286/singkawang-kota-paling-toleran-di-indonesia-3-tahun-berturut-turut
Miyahara, M., Piek, J., & Rigoli, D. (2024). Physical disabilities. Dalam W. Troop-Gordon & E. W. Neblett (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Adolescence (Second Edition) (hlm. 404–416). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-96023-6.00045-2
Modood, T. (2021). Can interculturalism complement multiculturalism? Multicultural Education Review, 13(4), 275–284. https://doi.org/10.1080/2005615X.2021.2006115
Musadad, A. A. (2022). Does Multicultural School Leadership Foster a Multicultural Teacher Culture?: The Mediating Role of Multicultural Inspiration, Personality, and Attitude. European Journal of Educational Research, 11(4), 2387–2399. https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-jer.11.4.2387
Muzammil, A. R., Asfar, D. A., Za’im, M., Astama, R. A. E., Muhammad, R. D., & Mahadi, A. (2023). Persepsi Mahasiswa S-1 terhadap Pemanfaatan Photomath dalam Pemecahan Persoalan Matematika. 12(4).
Naz, F. L., Afzal, A., & Khan, M. H. N. (2023). Challenges and Benefits of Multicultural Education for Promoting Equality in Diverse Classrooms. Journal of Social Sciences Review, 3(2), 511–522. https://doi.org/10.54183/jssr.v3i2.291
Nieto, S. (2017). Affirmation, Solidarity, and Critique. Dalam S. Nieto, Language, Culture, and Teaching (3 ed., hlm. 163–180). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315465692-12
Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017). Thematic Analysis: Striving to Meet the Trustworthiness Criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 160940691773384. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
Podadera, M. D. C. M., & González-Jimenez, A. J. (2023). Teachers’ Perceptions of Immigrant Students and Families: A Qualitative Study. Sustainability, 15(16), 12632. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612632
Rahman, B. A. (2022). Islamic revival and cultural diversity: Pesantren’s configuration in contemporary Aceh, Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, 12(1), 201–229. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v12i1.201-229
Rodríguez Fuentes, A., & Fernández Fernández, A. D. (2018). Actitudes ante la diversidad cultural de progenitores y descendientes. Eficiencia de la influencia por su grado de confluencia. Arbor, 194(788), 451. https://doi.org/10.3989/arbor.2018.788n2011
Rubie‐Davies, C., Hattie, J., & Hamilton, R. (2006). Expecting the best for students: Teacher expectations and academic outcomes. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 76(3), 429–444. https://doi.org/10.1348/000709905X53589
Sibawaihi, S. (2022). Implementing Multiculturalism in Indonesian Higher Education: An Epistemological Analysis. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 22(13), 111–122. https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v22i13.5511
Sidi, B. A. (2019). Unity and Diversity: National Identity and Multiculturalism in Indonesia [University of Otago]. https://hdl.handle.net/10523/10106
Sinagatullin, I. M. (2003). Constructing multicultural education in a diverse society. Scarecrow Press.
Suwarso, W. A. (2021). Peran Masyarakat dalam Promosi Pariwisata Kota Singkawang. Jurnal PIKMA : Publikasi Ilmu Komunikasi Media Dan Cinema, 3(2), 146–156. https://doi.org/10.24076/pikma.v3i2.474
Tonbuloglu, B., Aslan, D., & Aydin, H. (2016). Teachers’ Awareness of Multicultural Education and Diversity in School Settings. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 16(64), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.14689/ejer.64.1
UU Nomor 12 Tahun 2001 tentang Pembentukan Kota Singkawang, Pub. L. No. 12, 1 (2001).
Wang, J. S. (2022). Teachers’ attitudes to cultural diversity: Results from a qualitative study in Russia and Taiwan. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(Query date: 2024-12-30 22:33:28). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.976659
Zimmermann, J., Greischel, H., & Jonkmann, K. (2021). The development of multicultural effectiveness in international student mobility. Higher Education, 82(6), 1071–1092. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00509-2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36987/jes.v12i3.6878
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ahmad Rabiul Muzammil, Mariyadi Mariyadi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

