Good cultures blur differences in schools

The Principal of Galaxy International School, Bilal Tekin has said it is important that students appreciate their uniqueness and use it as a tool to build stronger bonds, for fostering globalisation in all aspects of their student life.

The international schools attract students from diverse culture though some have predominant foreign students, from one or a few countries.

This may also have its own negative implications, though positives can also be mentioned.  The child has to adjust and grapple with the differences amidst students from assorted cultural background.

He made these remarks today during the school's third international school day marked under the theme, "Treasure of Diversity."

The event brought together 46 different countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and United States of America.

According to Rachael Kabareeba, a counseling psychologist, such a situation grooms tolerance, respect and understanding towards other cultures, a trait that is increasingly becoming essential in a globalised environment, yet again, giving a student an opportunity to make friends.

On the other hand, local schools have the potential to make students fluent in their local languages.

Chances are high that children who attend local schools have the potential to learn and understand the customs and cultures of their country better; unlike when they are in international schools.

In regard to learning, international schools are not exam oriented and encourage self-learning and research geared towards nurturing critical and independent thinking while building the strength of character.

This is in contrast to local schools, which are more focused on exams and assessments and give lots of homework. Also, most international schools are defined by their curriculum. 

Event

At the event, students, teachers and parents showcased their distinctive cultures through traditional dances, songs, a food exhibition, a fashion and flag show.

Tekin also said the celebration of different cultures should help students value the unity in diversity.

"This should go a long way in helping the student community to cherish the unity in diversity that exists in our schools and use it to help change the world for a better tomorrow. We have to take on our own legacies and inherit new ones so that ignorance, poverty, discrimination and racism have no room to surface," he explained.

Speaking after the event, Janine Alice Oberholzer, a South African teacher at Galaxy International School said the significance of such cultural days it to observe the differences and similarities among various countries.

Oberholzer urged teachers to aid students to understand that it is good to be unique.

"It is okay to be different. This is by accepting each other and sharing the good qualities which we have," she said.