Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the current practices and challenges of multicultural education management at five governmental primary schools of Jimma town. Descriptive survey research design with mixed methods was used for this study. [The total participants of 238 comprising of 226 teachers, 5 principals, 5 vice principals, and 2 cluster supervisors from the 5 primary schools were involved in the study as a source of data. Teachers were selected through Simple random sampling. Purposive sampling was used to select the remaining administrative partitions(10 ) and school cluster supervisors(2).Questionnaire and interview guide were used to collect data from the above sources. The data collected through questionnaire were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages, means and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (independent t-test). Data collected using interview were analysed qualitatively by, narrating, interpreting and reflecting on key points obtained from the participants pertinent to the objectives of the research. The study findings revealed that, the extent to which multi-cultural or diversity management practice was found at its low level at the study sites of Jimma town. It was also found that the managing or handling aspects of diversity in the study area has been challenged by lack of appropriate diversity management awareness lack of staff training on multi-cultural management absence of treating diversity at the school positively, problems associated with method of teaching and learning, problems related to the use of multi-language in communicating with students from different social groups, problems related to reflect the opinion of all social groups in the decisions made by the school, lack of parents and community involvement in handling multicultural practices . Hence to realize the prospects of multi-cultural management such as reduced gender gap, good school culture, inclusive method of teaching and learning, health and safe school environment and development of good citizen in the schools under consideration, The researcher afforded the following recommendations: attention should be given for Multi-cultural management, at national, regional and local levels through media, and pan¬el discussion. School principals should create some multi¬cultural environments that address issues of diversity in the schools and schools should be adopted multicultural envi¬ronment that reflects, language, ethnicity, habit, and customs throughout the school society to enhance and promotes diversity issues. It is also very important to recommend that School principals should create on awareness of diversi¬ty, appreciating diversity, fairness, and democratic thinking among school society.
