Education department policy constructions within highly political contexts

A critical policy study of multiculturalism

Bibliographic Data

ID11488489
AuthorsAnna Sullivan (0000-0003-3573-631X, University of South Australia, corresponding author), Neil Tippett (0000-0003-3383-6181, University of South Australia), Jamie Manolev (0000-0001-5312-4400, University of South Australia), Melanie Baak (0000-0002-0745-1352, University of South Australia), Bruce Johnson (0000-0001-7416-783X, University of South Australia)
Year2022
Volume37
Issue6
Pages883-903
Publication date2022-11-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Education Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0268-0939 • E-ISSN: 1464-5106
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/02680939.2021.1936194
OpenAlexW3171729763
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited24

This article provides a critical analysis of policies from two education systems that support the education of students from migrant backgrounds. This analysis examines the highly political policy context of multiculturalism to reveal how education systems acquiesce to or resist social and political forces. In making this case, the article presents an historical analysis of the Australian federal government’s multicultural policy and the events that shaped it. The article then presents an analysis of the national policy statement Multicultural Australia: United, Strong, Successful to understand the current federal position on multiculturalism. These analyses provide an understanding of the political rationality of the broader context. This article argues that education policy constructions are likely to reflect this political rationality. Against this backdrop it then examines primary policies from two education systems that relate to education for students from migrant and refugee backgrounds. The key argument is that, whilst the federal government attends to concerns about security, social integration and economic contributions, education departments can ‘resist’ and attend to broader issues related to educational equity and social justice

Argument (complex analysis · Context (archaeology · Education policy · Equity (law · Government (linguistics · Higher education · Multiculturalism · Pedagogy · Political science · Politics · Rationality · Sociology · Education and experiences of immigrants and refugees · Global Education and Multiculturalism · Global Educational Policies and Reforms · Law · Public Administration

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