Eureka! Institutional Repository

These modern days appear to present an intense mobility in various sectors related to culture, spreading ideas and the relocation off not only people but entire populations. Education is one of the most important expressions of modern civilization. The necessity of providing education and normal integration to the children of refugees and economic migrants is large, since education contributes in the process of socialization, character development and the attitude of a person. The environment of the school is where discriminations against the “other” students are expressed and developed. In result, these children are endangered with social and educational inclusion and so the outmost attention of the administration and the educational personnel is required. The management of the cultural diversity of the modern school is the objective of this thesis and more specifically the investigation of the views of middle schools headmasters. Using a qualitative analysis method in a sample of ten headmasters, the essay records the views of the candidates regarding multiculturalism and intercultural education emphasizing on the attitudes and perceptions of the headmasters regarding their administrative and educational role towards the students from different linguistic and cultural background. The research shows the importance of the headmaster’s role in managing the multiculturalism of the modern school and its adaptability to the ever changing racial background of its students, in a way that achieves to create safety and equality in the school’s environment while also achieving the educational goals. The contribution of everyone in the school community (teachers, students, parents) is important in achieving that goal and securing equal educational opportunities which will prevent social inclusion. The headmaster’s role and attitude towards the school’s multiculturalism is of vital importance to the forming of a healthy school environment. The research showed that the headmasters, despite the difficulties and the challenges they come up against in the modern multicultural school they manage to meet the expectations of their role.