Education in Values, Cultural Identity, and Family-School-Community Integration

Values education is fundamental for the development of just and cohesive societies. However, in Latin America and the Caribbean, this process faces multiple challenges due to the social, economic, and cultural crisis exacerbated by globalization and the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzes the relationship between values education and cultural identity in the educational contexts of Colombia and the Dominican Republic, highlighting the importance of family-school-community integration. A qualitative-dialectical approach is adopted, based on a literature review and participant observation in educational institutions. The findings show that values education is fragmented, with weak links to cultural identity and limited family involvement. In response, an educational project structured in four stages is proposed: awareness, planning, implementation, and evaluation, with participatory strategies that promote values education from a community-based approach. The study concludes that strengthening the integration between schools, families, and communities is essential to ensuring effective and contextualized values education, contributing to the development of citizens with greater ethical and cultural awareness.