Cham Muslims’ experiences in Vietnamese education institutions: an exploratory study
Journal for Multicultural Education
ISSN: 2053-535X
Article publication date: 12 December 2024
Issue publication date: 3 February 2025
Abstract
Purpose
Cham Muslims are both an ethnic and religious minority group. Although reports indicate a bleak situation regarding school attainment and success, little research has been conducted exclusively on the experiences of Cham Muslims in Vietnam’s educational system. This study aims to investigate the challenges and supports that Cham Muslims may encounter during their years in public education. Additionally, this study explores how Islamic elements are received in various educational settings.
Design/methodology/approach
Using qualitative methods and purposive sampling, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Cham Muslim students enrolled in two Vietnamese universities. The data were analyzed to address the research questions and were interpreted through the lens of Bourdieu’s concepts of field and capital, as well as Appadurai's (2004) notion of “capacity to aspire.”
Findings
The findings of this study suggest that Cham Muslim students may encounter unique challenges compared to other ethnic groups residing in mountainous regions. Various forms of support, both from the state and individuals, have been identified as facilitators of educational engagement. However, this study also highlights the challenges associated with Islamic practices in both pre-collegiate and university environments.
Research limitations/implications
Given the exploratory nature of this study, the findings should be interpreted cautiously to avoid overgeneralization. While additional sources were consulted for substantiation, the small sample size limits the generalizability of the results. However, this study can serve as a foundation for future research investigating the experiences of Cham Muslims in Vietnamese education institutions. Larger-scale studies conducted in multiple locations would contribute to the literature on ethnic and religious minorities, which often requires in-depth analysis using various theoretical approaches.
Originality/value
This study is among the pioneering efforts to investigate Cham Muslims’ educational experiences in Vietnam, which has the potential to contribute to both the ethnic and religious minority studies.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the participants for their time and willingness to participate in this research. Their contributions were essential to this study. The authors also thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments, which helped them to strengthen the methodological rigor and improve the overall presentation of the manuscript.
Citation
Ngoc, C.H. and Kim Khanh, M.T. (2025), "Cham Muslims’ experiences in Vietnamese education institutions: an exploratory study", Journal for Multicultural Education, Vol. 19 No. 1, pp. 73-86. https://doi.org/10.1108/JME-09-2024-0107
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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