The Challenges of Teaching About Diversity Through Group Facilitating in a Less Democratic Country

• In Event: The Politics of Praxis

Abstract

Research shows teachers teaching about diversity have encountered various intellectual and emotional challenges in the classrooms. However, little effort has gone to mapping the challenges with political factors and social narratives in a less-democratic country like Vietnam. This study examines what curriculum and pedagogical aspects Vietnamese teachers are not willing to undertake while teaching about diversity and why. Findings show teachers avoid teaching controversy-censored topics and facilitating individualistic group work. The findings reveal that teachers are constrained by the state’s censorship on social-class-related topics and social narratives fraught with prejudices to lowly-class students. The study highlights the need to prepare teachers teaching about diversity with knowledge and skills to teach effectively within the unique sociopolitical context of a less-democracy.

Author

• Vy Dao, University of Social Sciences and Humanities-Vietnam National University HCM