The relationship between teachers' cultural intelligence levels and their attitudes towards multicultural education

In this study, the relationship between teachers' cultural intelligence levels and their attitudes and competencies toward multicultural education was examined. The population of the research consists of a total of 4,817 teachers working in preschool, primary, secondary, and high school levels affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Siirt city center, its six districts (Eruh, Kurtalan, Tillo, Pervari, Şirvan, and Baykan), and the villages connected to these districts. The sample of the study comprises 320 teachers (179 female and 141 male), selected from this population through random sampling across various branches. Data were collected using the Cultural Intelligence Scale, the Attitude Scale toward Multicultural Education, and the Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills Form. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, appropriate difference analyses, correlation, and regression analyses. The results revealed that teachers' cultural intelligence levels were at a medium–high level, with particularly higher averages in the motivational and metacognitive dimensions. Furthermore, teachers' overall attitudes toward multicultural education were found to be positive. When the dimensions of multicultural competencies were examined, it was determined that awareness levels were higher than knowledge and skill levels, while the knowledge dimension yielded relatively lower averages. As a key finding of the research, a significant and positive relationship was found between teachers' cultural intelligence levels and their attitudes and multicultural competencies. Moreover, it was determined that teachers' cultural intelligence levels and their attitudes toward multicultural education significantly predicted their multicultural competencies (awareness, knowledge, and skills). These results highlight the critical role of cultural intelligence and attitudes as significant predictors of multicultural competencies. Key Words: Cultural Intelligence, Multiculturalism, Multicultural Education, Attitudes Towards Multicultural Education, Multicultural Competence.