Increasing cultural diversity among teachers will enhance the quality of education

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all, but the world is falling behind in achieving this goal. One key aspect that can help raise education quality is the cultural diversity among teachers.

Research has shown that a culturally diverse teaching workforce can have a positive impact on historically disadvantaged students’ academic achievement, literacy, numeracy, and school completion rates. However, the teaching workforce has historically been white, middle class, and monocultural, especially in the Global North.

Efforts to attract a more culturally diverse education workforce began in the 1970s, but the numbers are still concerning. In the United States, almost 80% of teachers are white, and in Australia, only 2% of teachers are Indigenous. These numbers do not reflect the diversity of the student population.

Preservice teachers from diverse backgrounds often face barriers and experiences of marginalization in teacher education programs. They report feeling isolated, experiencing racism, and facing challenges in their placements. This can lead to mental health issues and even dropping out of their courses.

To address these challenges, there are calls to go beyond superficial representation and decolonize teacher education. This involves valuing diverse perspectives, knowledge, and experiences in all aspects of teacher education.

In a time of teacher shortages, it is crucial to attract and retain a more diverse teaching workforce to ensure quality education for all. More research is needed to understand the impact of workload and working conditions on teachers from diverse backgrounds and to address the challenges they face in the profession.