Teachers’ views on values education: A qualitative study in Sweden and Turkey

•Values education was mostly about compliance with societal values and norms.•There was a strong focus on how to treat others and on self-responsibility.•The teachers depicted role modeling as a primary means.•There was no critical approach to values education.•There was a lack of professional knowledge in values education.

The aim of the current study was to examine Swedish and Turkish teachers’ perspectives on values education. Qualitative interviews with 52 teachers were conducted and analyzed. Values education was mostly about compliance with societal values and norms. The learning goals or values in values education were mainly on how to treat others and on self-responsibility. Teachers did not take a critical approach. A main method of values education reported by the teachers was to be a good role model in everyday interactions with students. Values education was largely described as an everyday practice embedded in the stream of social interactions. Furthermore, an everyday language was used when the teachers described values and values education. There was a lack of professional knowledge in this domain.