Education and cultural expression as a predictor of literacy culture

Abstract

While literacy culture plays a crucial role in enhancing societal quality, the specific ways in which education and cultural expression influence literacy culture remain insufficiently explored. Existing research often overlooks how different educational methodologies shape literacy habits in rural communities. This study aims to analyze the relationship between education and cultural expression to literacy culture, and identify the extent to which these two variables affect literacy culture. This study used a quantitative approach with multiple linear regression analysis. Data were collected from 35 respondents and analyzed using a regression model with a value of R²=0.571. The results showed that education had a significant positive influence on literacy culture (B=0.814, p<0.001), while cultural expression had a significant negative influence (B=−0.246, p=0.008). The two variables together explain 57.1% of the cultural variation of literacy. Improving the quality of education contributes significantly to the strengthening of literacy culture The findings highlight the critical role of improving education quality to strengthen literacy culture. However, the negative influence of cultural expression indicates a need to align cultural practices with literacy goals. Policies and programs should focus on integrating culturally relevant practices, such as storytelling, traditional art forms, and oral histories, into literacy initiatives to transform cultural expressions into tools that support rather than hinder literacy development. These strategies can ensure that cultural expressions complement educational efforts to build a more robust literacy culture.