PREVENTING INTOLERANCE FROM AN EARLY AGE: THE ROLE OF MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION IN PRESCHOOL

Abstract: Indonesia is a country with diverse cultures, customs, languages, and religions. This presents a great potential to become a nation rich in inclusive and multicultural values. However, it can often backfire if we fail to cultivate this diversity as a source of pride. It can even become the seed of radicalism or fanaticism among certain groups if it is not nurtured from an early age. Therefore, it is crucial to teach young children about inclusive and multicultural education—the meaning of cultural, customary, linguistic, and even religious diversity within a given context. This article was researched through observations of early childhood education environments, literature studies, and documentation. Through this article, it is hoped that all of us, especially those in early childhood education settings, will understand the importance of inclusive and multicultural education, which must be implemented from an early age to reduce intolerance.