Cultural diversity in the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast: Challenges and opportunities in education

Abstract

The problem addressed in this study is the management of diversity and interculturality in education and its communication effects on the caribbean coast of Nicaragua, a multiethnic, multicultural and multilingual region. The objective is to train citizens capable of perceiving, analyzing and interpreting their environments to generate responses to needs and problems. The materials and methods include a critical review of existing literature and the analysis of specific educational experiences, such as the model of the Bluefields Indian & Caribbean University (BICU). The results show that diversity, when properly managed, enriches the educational experience and fosters empathy, tolerance and diversity in the classroom, creating an inclusive, creative and proactive environment. The discussion highlights those challenges such as language barriers, stereotypes and prejudices, when handled positively, can become opportunities to improve educational communication. Educators, properly trained, play a crucial role in this process, promoting effective intercultural communication. This study underlines the importance of an inclusive education that values cultural and ethnic wealth, especially in regions such as the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua.