Resumen de Negotiating co-existence in Cyprus: in search of reconciliation pedagogies at a shared school
This case study refers to the findings of a research investigation conducted at a shared secondary school in Cyprus�that is, a school which co-educates children coming from two conflicting ethnic communities on the island (that is, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots). The study focuses on teachers�, students�, and parents� perspectives about the struggles to negotiate co-existence in this school. Drawing on a threemonth ethnographic research project, the findings provide insights into how teachers, students and parents from the two conflicting communities draw selectively from various discourses and practices on collective identity and ethnic conflict in Cyprus to support the pre-existing values and beliefs adopted from family and schooling. While most teachers choose to avoid contentious issues rather than exploring them in order to prevent possible conflicts, a few others push for clear inclusion and reconciliation pedagogies. Although these efforts are well-intentioned, it is argued that unless systemic structural changes are undertaken at this school the potential is to simply reinforce rather than weaken existing divisions.
