Perceptions of Culturally Safe Classrooms among Professors at the College of Education - Kuwait University: An Exploratory Qualitative Research

Document Type : Original Article

Author

أستاذ مشارك في تخصص الأنثروبولوجيا الثقافية والتربية، كلية التربية، جامعة الكويت.

Abstract

This study explored the perceptions of professors at the College of Education – Kuwait University about culturally safe classrooms. It identifies participants’ concept of these classes, attitudes towards them, the most important obstacles that hinder their launch, and suggestions for enhancing them. The research applies a qualitative exploratory approach by conducting semi-structured interviews to collect data from a sample consisting of 16 professors in educational fields, who were chosen randomly. The most prominent results of the study included the ambiguity in the concept of culturally safe classrooms among professors. However, their attitudes towards these classes were positive. The study revealed several obstacles to launching these classes, including the professors' weak awareness of the cultural differences, the heavy teaching responsibilities, the small number of foreign students and professors, the lack of training on culturally safe classrooms, and the lack of necessary equipment and technologies in classrooms. The results suggest that the College of Education should familiarize professors with the concept of culturally safe classrooms, organize training courses for them on the procedures and requirements that must be carried out to launch these classrooms, accept more diverse students, and consider employing professors from different cultural backgrounds.

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References

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