Developing Interethnic and Intercultural Competencies - Aims and Syllabus in the Context of Elementary Education Students in Republic of Macedonia

Abstract

Тhe main goal of our theoretical research was to show how much the syllabus allow development of awareness about the diversities and development of life values in multiethnic and multicultural environments. In that context, we established the goal to analyze the objectives and the content of the syllabus of the most relevant subjects regarding multicultural and intercultural education: Introduction to society and Society for grades I – V. Having in mind that in Macedonia there are different cultures, religions, traditions and languages, it is necessary to develop competencies to show respect for the diversities and to develop the multicultural awareness of the students at the earliest age. On the other hand, globalization, as a characteristic of the modern age, increasingly imposes the need to develop the intercultural awareness and competencies of the students as well. The interethnic (multicultural) as well as intercultural competencies are especially important from several aspects: firstly, as a result of the need to overcome stereotypes and prejudices still present in our society, and secondly, to develop values in children, and especially empathy in students.