CULTURAL LITERACY IN EDUCATION: THE KEY TO SHAPING CIVILIZED HUMANS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21009/ishel.v2i1.68476Keywords:
Cultural Literacy, Twenty-First-Century Education, Character Education, Local Wisdom, Global Citizenship, Industry 4.0, Society 5.0Abstract
The rapid development of digital technology in the industry 4.0 and Society 5.0 era has transformed education, offered global connectivity but also challenged cultural identity and character formation. Twenty-first-century competencies should therefore include cultural literacy, not just critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. This study explores the foundations, importance, and teaching strategies for integrating cultural literacy in modern education using qualitative library research. The findings show cultural literacy is a multidimensional skill involving cultural knowledge, intercultural competence, ethics, and critical cultural awareness. It strengthens character education, national identity, global citizenship, and helps achieve educational goals. Key strategies include curriculum integration, culturally responsive teaching, project-based learning, digital literacy, community involvement, and authentic assessment. The study concludes that cultural literacy should be a core competency, connecting cognitive skills with ethical values, local wisdom, and cultural identity, to develop learners who are competent, ethical, culturally rooted, and globally aware.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Sitti Rabiah, Asriani Abbas, Muliadi
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