EXPLORING THE ROLE OF TEACHERS IN MULTICULTURAL AND INTERDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION: A REVIEW

Abstract

This qualitative literature review examines the dual role of educators in navigating multicultural and interdisciplinary education within diverse classroom contexts. Drawing on 71 peer-reviewed studies from Scopus and Web of Science-indexed journals, the analysis synthesises empirical evidence across three domains: (1) teacher competencies in fostering inclusive learning environments, (2) strategies for integrating disciplinary knowledge with cultural responsiveness, and (3) systemic barriers to effective implementation. Findings reveal that teachers serving as cultural mediators and interdisciplinary synthesizers significantly enhance student engagement, critical thinking, and cross-cultural competence. However, persistent challenges include inadequate preparation programs (reported in 68% of studies), rigid curricular frameworks, and institutional resistance to pedagogical innovation. The study identifies six evidence-based practices: culturally responsive project-based learning, collaborative teacher design teams, multilingual resource integration, equity-focused assessment reforms, community-engaged curriculum co-creation, and technology-enhanced intercultural exchanges. Longitudinal data from Indonesian and Greek case studies demonstrate that schools prioritising these strategies achieve 22-40% improvements in academic outcomes and social cohesion. The review concludes with a call for systemic reforms, including revised teacher certification standards emphasising intercultural pedagogy and government-funded interdisciplinary externships. This work contributes original insights into the emotional labour of dual-competency teaching and proposes a novel framework for evaluating multicultural-interdisciplinary integration in K-12 and higher education settings.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.019-023