Multicultural Education and Students’ Cultural Awareness

This study examined the relationship between multicultural education and students’ cultural awareness among undergraduate students of Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU), Tarragona, Davao Oriental. Specifically, it determined the level of students’ perceptions of multicultural education in terms of prejudice reduction and a culturally inclusive environment, assessed the level of students’ cultural awareness, and established the significant relationship between multicultural education and cultural awareness. The study employed a quantitative descriptive-correlational research design. A total of 300 undergraduate students participated in the study through a structured survey questionnaire utilizing a five-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using weighted mean, standard deviation, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient. The findings revealed that students perceived multicultural education to be implemented at a very high level in terms of prejudice reduction (M = 4.47, SD = 0.46) and a culturally inclusive environment (M = 4.42, SD = 0.51). Likewise, students demonstrated a very high level of cultural awareness with an overall mean of 4.44 (SD = 0.52). Among the indicators of cultural awareness, openness to learning new ideas and perspectives from other cultures obtained the highest mean (M = 4.48, SD = 0.70). Furthermore, the results showed significant positive relationships between multicultural education and students’ cultural awareness. Specifically, prejudice reduction was significantly correlated with cultural awareness (r = .521, p = .000), while a culturally inclusive environment also exhibited a significant positive correlation (r = .536, p = .000). These findings indicate that stronger perceptions of multicultural educational practices are associated with higher levels of cultural awareness among students. The study concludes that multicultural education plays a vital role in fostering cultural awareness, inclusivity, respect for diversity, and intercultural understanding among university students. Strengthening multicultural programs and culturally responsive educational practices may further enhance students’ ability to function effectively in culturally diverse environments.