Title: Indian primary schools and pluralism education - a qualitative view

Authors: Anuj Kumar; Sweta Leena Hota; Arya Kumar; Sablu Khan

Addresses: Rushford Business School, Luzern, Switzerland ' Department of Commerce, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, India ' Department of Commerce, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, India ' Residential Coaching Academy, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract: This article highlights how pluralistic education promotes a harmonious society that is tolerant of religious and cultural diversity. Research was conducted on three different categories of primary schools in the Indian state of Odisha. Analysis of student demographics, pluralistic policies, and teaching practices were based on interviews, field notes, and document reviews. Our results indicate that, since 1999 the Ministry of Education has been aggressively improving the quality of education in primary and government schools and promoting pluralistic education. We find that preserving cultural and religious identity is possible through an inclusive educational curriculum. Our findings suggest that pluralistic education enables the building of intercultural skills and tolerance towards diverse cultures, which will go a long way in maintaining a harmonious society amidst cultural and religious diversity.

Keywords: pluralism; education; India; pluralism in primary schools; cultural pluralism; primary schools.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPEE.2025.150355

International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education, 2025 Vol.15 No.4, pp.345 - 361

Received: 23 Feb 2023
Accepted: 22 Nov 2023
Published online: 10 Dec 2025 *

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