.png)
Why Values Education Matters: How a Holistic, Values-Based Approach Can Transform Individuals, Relationships, and Society
- Anne Bellavance
- Jan 4
- 3 min read
Why Do We Need Values Education — Now More Than Ever?
Humanity is facing unprecedented challenges — rising mental health concerns, social division, injustice, environmental degradation, and conflict at every level of society. These challenges are not merely technical or political; they are fundamentally human.
To truly flourish — in our personal lives, our relationships, and our shared global future — education must address more than academic success. A genuinely holistic education equips people to:
Manage themselves with awareness and responsibility
Build healthy, respectful relationships
Contribute positively to society
Care wisely for the natural environment
This is the purpose and promise of values education. Read on to explore: Why Values Education Matters: How a Holistic, Values-Based Approach Can Transform Individuals, Relationships, and Society
How Values Education Develops the Whole Person
Values education and personal development cultivate lifelong skills and moral foundations that empower both young people and adults to navigate life with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
This approach begins with a crucial realisation: each person is inherently good and part of a shared human journey. Growth and self-reflection are therefore grounded in intrinsic worth — not guilt, shame, or self-criticism.
Values education helps individuals effectively manage:
The self — emotions, behaviour, resilience, and purpose
Relationships — empathy, communication, respect, and cooperation
Society and environment — ethical contribution, service, and stewardship
What Is Character and Virtue Education?
At its core, values education is also character education. Its goal is not only to develop people who are intellectually capable (“smart”), but individuals who are morally grounded and virtuous (“good”).
A virtue is a deeply ingrained quality of character — such as integrity, compassion, responsibility, or perseverance — developed over time through conscious practice. History shows that the wellbeing of societies depends on the virtues of their citizens and leaders.
When virtue is cultivated, individuals are better able to:
Make responsible and ethical decisions
Navigate life’s challenges with resilience
Build strong families and communities
Contribute meaningfully to the common good.
Why Education Is Never Value-Neutral
All education shapes character — whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Across education systems worldwide, there is growing consensus among educators, parents, business leaders, and policymakers that education must foster:
Self-esteem and self-motivation
Respect, tolerance, and responsibility
Integrity and pride in meaningful achievement
Other essential qualities include resilience in the face of criticism, the capacity to love and be loved, the courage to pursue meaningful goals, and the willingness to take responsibility for one’s own life.
To achieve this, intellectual learning must be integrated with moral, emotional, and civic education, nurturing the whole person — mind, heart, and character.
Evidence That Values Education Works
The impact of values education is not merely theoretical — it is well documented.
Findings from the Values Education Summits (2021–2022), organised by the Universal Peace Federation, consistently highlighted that values education contributes to:
Improved mental health and wellbeing
Stronger social and emotional development
Healthier and more respectful relationships
Increased engagement with learning
Reduced behavioural challenges
Greater harmony within schools and communities
These outcomes affirm a timeless truth: peace is built from the inside out.
A Values-Based Promise for the Future
A society flourishes when education nurtures not only knowledge, but meaning, virtue, and responsibility. By integrating values education into learning and community life, we empower individuals to live with purpose, relate with compassion, and contribute positively to the world around them.
At WFWP Australia, values education reflects our commitment to building a culture of heart — where peace begins within the individual, is strengthened through families, and is expressed through service to society.
Values education is not an optional addition to learning. It is the foundation for human wellbeing, social cohesion, and lasting peace.
View Dr John Bellavance's video here: https://youtu.be/bBU9KJMsMBc?si=2pjHLm05ri0frtRd
Videos and Framework created by Dr John Bellavance
Global Vice President, Sun Moon University
Oceania Coordinator, International Association of Academicians for Peace
Vice-President, Universal Peace Federation Australia
Comments