Teacher Educators' Perspectives on Multicultural Teacher Education in the BSEd Social Studies Program of Western Mindanao State University

Abstract

This study looks into the perspectives on multicultural education of teacher educators in the Bachelor in Secondary Education (BSEd) major in Social Studies program of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU). The research questions are: 1) What are the teacher educators perspectives (i.e. knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes) on multicultural education? and 2) What factors account for the teacher educators' perspectives on multicultural education?

Using a qualitative methodology consisting of a survey of 13 teacher educators handling the professional education courses in the BSEd Social Studies program, interviews of nine of these teacher educators, and an analysis of the program prospectus and course syllabi, the study finds that the teacher educators as a whole have positive conceptions of and attitudes towards multicultural education. There is also a consensus among the teacher educators regarding the relevance of multicultural education in the Philippine context and the need to integrate it in pre-service teacher education. However, the teacher educators' practice of multicultural education appears to be limited due to lack of formal training in multicultural education at the pre-service and in-service level, and lack of other forms of support for faculty, such as relevant teaching resources and adequate time to plan course delivery. At present the teacher educators' practice of multicultural education in their teaching is anchored only on a positive attitude and prior knowledge obtained through personal experiences. But as a group they are confronted with constraints to implementing multicultural education that require a more holistic and systematic response at the program and institutional level.