In the new democratic South Africa that emerged after 1994, educators are having to cope with the demands of multicultural situations that are developing in the former racially and ethnically segregated schools, and in the process striving for the equal treatment of the learners, the removal of discrimination and prejudice, the inculcation of respect, and an appreciation for diversity. In an empirical study to determine the extent to which educators harbor concerns about multiculturalism in their classrooms, a survey was done including 628 teachers in 13 multicultural, well-performing schools in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It was found, inter alia, that educators have not been adequately prepared to meet the challenges confronting them in the increasingly multicultural schools in which they are teaching. They are, however, aware of the challenges posed by the new multicultural school environment and show real concern about dealing with them effectively.
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