Enhancing Cultural Awareness through Intercultural Communication in the Secondary School Curriculum in Ibadan North Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria

The multi-ethnic composition of Nigeria since its inception has made interaction with people from different cultural backgrounds inevitable, including among school students. This necessitated the inclusion of intercultural communication studies in the school curriculum. Researchers in intercultural communication have conducted several studies on this subject, such as how students interact with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds, as well as how cultural differences and personal adjustment challenges affect Nigerian students' language acquisition and adaptation patterns. Consequently, this study examined the influence of the school curriculum on students' cultural awareness and social interaction through culture-related subjects such as Social Studies and extracurricular activities like Cultural Day. The findings reveal that the school curriculum, to some extent, cannot serve as a strong institution for teaching individuals about cultural values beyond their own. The results also suggest that incorporating practices that educate students about the values of other cultures can help prevent cultural conflicts. This is based on the understanding that one of the key ways to relate peacefully and meaningfully with others, regardless of cultural background, is by understanding their culture. Owing to the results, the study recommends that culture-related subjects and activities should be deliberately and effectively taught and engaged to ensure a comprehensive influence on all students.