The Education of Minorities in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East

Educators have focused on creating and adapting curriculum content and pedagogy to reflect the diverse backgrounds of their minority students. Parallel to public school curricula, some minority groups have created and introduced curricula and pedagogy to maintain, honor, and develop their group's identity. The scope of these efforts is large and covers different levels of education from early childhood to university. It also covers a wide range of social forms such as ethnicity, class, gender, and ability/ disability. Because these efforts involve possibilities and challenges, discourses on the education of minorities are complex. Mainstream reports may be far removed from how minorities actually experience the educational contexts in African, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. We are seeing different dynamics in what it means to educate all students in these regions. Understanding the functions of curriculum and instruction to provide educational opportunities is essential. Addressing the inclusion and possible marginalization of minorities in public education systems in these world regions continues to be challenging, if not problematic. In this book, The Education of Minorities in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East; educational researchers document, describe, and/or raise critical issues and questions on efforts intended to make relevant and appropriate public education available to minorities in the regions.