Patriotic Education of Youth and the Formation of Patriotic Values in Educational Institutions of Modern Ukraine in the Context of Building an Inclusive Society

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the problem of patriotic education of youth in Ukraine. It is emphasized that in the context of full-scale aggression and existential challenges to statehood, the meaning of the concepts "patriotic education" and "patriotic values" is undergoing a significant transformation. Patriotism is viewed not only as respect for traditions and symbols but as an active civic stance, social responsibility, resilience, and readiness to defend the country's sovereignty.

The role and significance of educators and social workers as key agents in the process of forming the national identity of the younger generation are analyzed in detail. It is determined that their activities should be aimed at developing critical thinking, media literacy, as well as fostering such moral and ethical qualities as dignity, honesty, solidarity, and mutual assistance, which are the foundation of a stable civil society.

Special attention is given to the analysis of the inseparable link between patriotic education and the development of an inclusive society. The thesis is substantiated that true patriotism in a modern democratic society is inherently inclusive. Inclusion is considered a practical embodiment of the patriotic ideals of equality, respect for every individual, and social cohesion. The article argues that effective patriotic education is impossible without creating an educational environment where every child—particularly children with special educational needs, children from families of internally displaced persons, and those who have experienced the trauma of war—feels valued, protected, and an important part of the Ukrainian nation.

Thus, the article asserts that an inclusive approach is an essential condition for the formation of effective patriotic values and the consolidation of Ukrainian society in the face of external and internal challenges.