Research
Multiethnicity in Southeast Asia and Education: Case Study of Vision Schools in Malaysia
Education is marked as one of the most important factors in the process of achieving sustainable development in any society. For this purpose, the United Nations has declared 2005-2014 as the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD). However, the notion of a sustainable education system may confront several different challenges depending on the society in which it needs to be implemented in. The role of education in multiracial/ethnic societies is vital to guarantee a sustainable and steady process of development. Simultaneously, because of the diverse nature of such societies and communities, designing and implementing an educational system capable of fulfilling the needs of each minority based on tolerance, respect and understanding is a challenging task. This concept seems extremely important in a region such as ASEAN with its rich socio-ethnic diversity. This paper examines and analyzes some of the mechanisms (curriculum designing, co-curriculum activities, administrative structures, etc.) necessary to be addressed in the educational system of a multiracial society to achieve social harmony and sustainability. At the same time, this paper tries to explore the challenges these mechanisms might face by referring to the case study of Vision Schools (Sekolah Wawasan) in a multiethnic society like Malaysia.
