School Climate or National Policy? Contextual Influences on Students’ Multicultural Learning and Attitudes Toward Immigrants

• In Event: Supporting the Educational Success of Immigrant Students: Strategies for Inclusive Learning

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between multicultural learning and attitudes towards immigrants among 15-year-old students, considering the influence of schools’ multicultural climate and countries’ immigrant integration policy. Drawing on data from 206,291 students in 11,285 schools across 38 countries in PISA 2018, multilevel regression analyses reveal that multicultural learning is positively related to attitudes towards immigrants. Furthermore, a significant interaction between multicultural learning and multicultural school climate suggests that a more egalitarian school environment enhances this relationship. However, the moderation effect of the immigrant integration policy is not significant. These results underscore the importance of an open and supportive school climate in shaping students’ attitudes towards immigrants, contributing to strategies for promoting inclusion in diverse educational settings.

Authors

• Mustafa Firat, Radboud University Nijmegen

• Bilge Gencoglu, University of Groningen