MORAL EDUCATION AND THE ROLE OF FAMILIES IN SHAPING VALUES FOR SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This paper explores the pivotal role of moral education and the family in shaping ethical values necessary for sustainable national development. It argues that while formal institutions such as schools and religious bodies contribute to value formation, the family remains the foundational agent of moral upbringing. Through a qualitative research design involving interviews and focus group discussions with parents, teachers, and community leaders, the study identifies the family’s contribution to character development, the challenges posed by modern societal trends, and the implications of moral decay on governance, social justice, and productivity. The paper concludes by recommending policy, educational, and community-based strategies to reinforce family roles in moral education as a pathway to national transformation.