Civic-Patriotic Education as a means to rescue Mozambican values

Mudjadjo"

Usually when I am faced with the question: what are the values of Mozambicanity? I say that they are those that are enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic, the “mother” charter that regulates living together in harmony in the Pearl of the Indian Ocean (without making value judgments). Hence, there is a need to rescue these values, with a clear perspective of renewing the social contract, that is, submitting our individual desires to the well-being of the collective. In this reflection we will do this with the help of Civic-Patriotic Education. The mobilization of the population for the national liberation struggle began with the founding of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), explaining the reasons for the need to fight, to have a homeland, the importance of independence, and its consequences. As is well known, each society has its own values and standards of conduct that its inhabitants adhere to. These are customary values (customs), state values or national values established by consensus, the perpetuation or reform of which depends on how they are transmitted and inculcated to the people and, mainly, to the young people who continue them. The transmission of values and traditions of the people that must be observed, in a given territorial space and historical period, are integrated into the process of comprehensive human education. In the case of the National Education System (SNE), especially in primary education, there is a subject called Moral and Civic Education (which has been facing serious difficulties in the exercise and fulfillment of its objectives). In the Armed Forces of Defense of Mozambique (FADM), this process is called Civic-Patriotic Education. As can be seen, in the FADM, there is an increase in aspects related to love, respect and devotion to the country and to Mozambican heroes. In this sense, military personnel are instilled with the values and virtues by which they must be guided in order to perpetuate the legacy received from their predecessors (the selfless defence of the national territory and its people). Hence the need to transfer this knowledge to non-military citizens in order to create foundations and strengthen social cohesion, so that any external narrative or agenda attempting to destabilise cannot easily achieve its goals. In order to speak of Civic-Patriotic Education as a curricular subject, it is important to define its constituents, which are Education, Civics/Civism, and Patriotism. In this context, education is a process in which the individual is formed through situations witnessed and experiences lived throughout his/her life. These actions aim to achieve a specific purpose so that he/she can perform some useful function in various contexts of society. On the other hand, education plays a fundamental role in achieving sustainable human and economic development and in reducing injustice and inequality. Civics is the behaviour that demonstrates respect for the values of society and its institutions. It can also be understood as a great dedication to the public interest or respect for the values of a society and its institutions; a sense of responsibilities and duties as a citizen, while patriotism is the bond or link of solidarity around the homeland. It can take three forms: Patriotism-feeling, which is the spontaneous adherence of someone to their homeland, an inner adherence and independent of any intellectual reflection. There is a communion of lives and mutual interests between the citizen and the homeland. Patriotism-duty, is a duty as a response of each person to the many benefits they receive from others, since the benefits we receive from the homeland are more important and numerous, thus patriotism becomes an obligation of conscience or a duty of justice. Patriotism-Devotion, we all feel the reason for paternity that the homeland has over us, because the Homeland is not only the land of our ancestors, but also the land where we were born and the land of those to come, the homeland is for us as a mother is for a child. Civic Education is a process of learning rules of social conduct at all times in an individual's life, so that he or she can integrate into his or her community by actively participating in community life, so that he or she understands the institutions of society and can be considered a citizen. Civic Education can be summarized in the following pillars: it is a process of learning and developing civic qualities; and it is the process of developing civic awareness, that is, respect for the values of society and its institutions. Patriotic Education is the process of teaching and learning to express feelings of love and devotion to the country and its symbols, such as the figure of the Head of State, the national flag, the national anthem, the national emblem, among other aspects. Therefore, Civic-Patriotic Education is a process of recovering cultural identity, that is, of transmitting knowledge, rules of social conduct, norms, regulations and laws, at all times in the individual's life, so that he/she can integrate into the community by actively participating in life so that he/she understands the institutions of society, its past, present and future prospects, and can be considered a citizen, with a view to raising patriotic consciousness. In summary, Civic-Patriotic Education can be understood as an organized, directed and intentional process aimed at preparing members of society (children, adults and the elderly) to exercise the rights and duties of citizenship and love for the country. Civic-Patriotic Education plays a very important role, because it is through it that the citizen: awakens interest in the history of the country; promotes and recognizes the cultural and linguistic diversity of the country; cultivates respect for state and/or private institutions; develops critical thinking about certain attitudes and values; acquires skills necessary for active participation in public life; acquires social and moral responsibility. Civic-Patriotic Education is important because it consolidates the vectors that support the values of Mozambicanity, namely: self-esteem, culture of peace, respect and mutual recognition among citizens, spirit of solidarity, volunteering, patriotism, teamwork, as well as national unity.

2025/12/3