MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION AND INCLUSION IN INDIA: ANALYSIS OF B.ED. STUDENTS TEACHERS PERCEPTION IN CONTEXT OF NEP-2020

Multicultural education is a teaching and learning approach that is originated by democratic values and beliefs and aims to cultivate cultural pluralism in culturally diverse societies. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 of the Government of India, which seeks to introduce a revolutionary era in the nations educational landscape, is a significant departure from traditional educational methods. India has consistently been a multicultural nation. A diverse array of origins, languages, perspectives, and cultures has been brought to the classroom from its ancient period to the present. The B.Ed. student teachers are the primary stakeholders for the implementation of multiculturalism in the 21st-century inclusive classrooms. This research employs thematic analysis to examine B.Ed. student teachers views and perceptions on multicultural education and inclusion in India in context of NEP-2020. Fifty (50) B.Ed. student teachers participate in this study. Findings indicate that B.Ed. student teachers have concerns about the inclusivity through multiculturalism. Recommendations include integrating cultural competence training in teacher education, experiential learning opportunities, multicultural content in the B.Ed. curriculum, and promoting multilingual educational practices.