Prof. James A. Banks, Kerry and Linda Killinger Professor of Diversity Studies and Founding Director, Center for Multicultural Education, University of Washington, Seattle.

HUMAN RIGHTS, DIVERSITY, AND CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION

Worldwide immigration and the quests for rights by minority groups around the world have caused social scientists and educators to raise serious questions about liberal assimilationist conceptions of citizenship that have historically dominated citizenship education in nation states around the world. In this presentation, I will challenge liberal assimilationist conceptions of citizenship and citizenship education, argue that citizenship education should be reformed so that it reflects the home cultures and languages of students from diverse groups, and contend that group rights can help individuals attain structural equality. I will discuss the implications of my analysis for transforming citizenship education in the final part of this presentation.

Prof. Jagdish Gundara, Emeritus Professor of Education at the Institute of Education University of London and UNESCO Chair in Intercultural Studies and Teacher Education

ABSTRACT OF KEYNOTE

The issues confronting education systems in the twenty first century are far deeper than the political elites from dominant and majority populations tended to project. In this presentation, I argue that these are not problems and issues emanating from immigrant minorities but are issues for all groups in society. They pertain as much to historical aspects of difference and diversity, as they do with the increasingly complex contemporary aspects of diversity. The measures necessitate a total re-consideration of establishing formal, informal and life-long learning communities. The issues raised by socio-economic inequalities and the poverty associated with certain communities have historic origins and may necessitate joined-up policies which include education and skills training.  At this level in different national contexts, there might be a very different focus when tackling either historically entrenched divides or more contemporary based exclusions. In educational terms, issues of linguistic, social class, race, nationality, religion or secular may all be relevant in different combinations. These issues present profound challenges and argue for an intercultural Paideia or ‘bildung’.