Heritage education is an instructional approach that aims to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of our communities. It is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses history, culture, social studies, and other subjects. Heritage education provides opportunities for students to learn about the past and present of their communities and to develop a sense of belonging and pride.

Heritage education is an inclusive approach that values the diverse cultural backgrounds of students and aims to provide a more accurate representation of history by including the perspectives of different groups. It also encourages students to engage with primary sources, such as artifacts, documents, and oral history, to better understand the past. Heritage education also promotes intercultural understanding and empathy, as it encourages students to learn about different cultures and perspectives. Through heritage education, students learn to appreciate the cultural heritage of their communities and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.

The fundamental purpose of heritage education is to make available opportunities to participate in new experiences in order to acquire new knowledge and abilities. Learners develop information, intellectual skills, and a wider variety of competences on issues such as the preservation of cultural heritage or the well-being of society when they gain this knowledge through direct experience with cultural heritage or by analysis of cultural heritage.

It is important that heritage be included in the official school curriculum or offered as an extracurricular activity, and that it teach students vital skills based on an approach that is multidisciplinary and crosses sectors. Education about our cultural heritage contributes to the cultivation of a greater awareness and respect of our living environment, of ourselves, and of one another.i