Teachers’ Digital Competence for Supporting Inclusive and Quality Education in Multilingual and Multicultural Mainstream Classrooms: A Mixed-Methods Exploration

This mixed-methods study examines the digital competence of primary school teachers in Greece and Cyprus working in multilingual and multicultural mainstream classrooms. In response to the increasing diversity in European education, it explores how teachers perceive and implement digital competence to support inclusive and quality education. Using the DigCompEdu framework and an extended TPACK model, data were collected from 146 in-service teachers through a structured questionnaire. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct competence profiles-high, moderate, and low-while Kruskal–Wallis tests confirmed significant differences among them. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses, supported by Pearson correlation analysis, highlighted how teachers’ beliefs, infrastructural conditions, and pedagogical practices intersect. Highly competent teachers reported the use of inclusive digital strategies yet pointed to systemic barriers such as limited training and poor infrastructure. Less confident teachers expressed foundational challenges and dependence on external support. Across all profiles, contextual factors—school resources, time, student digital readiness, and access to professional development—were key. The study concludes that digital competence is not merely technical but deeply context-sensitive and pedagogical. It calls for differentiated, equity-oriented professional learning pathways aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 10, contributing to inclusive education and education for sustainability in linguistically diverse classrooms.