The Environmental Conditionings Behind Education of Adults on the Threshold of the 21st Century
The Environmental Conditionings Behind Education of Adults on the Threshold of the 21st Century

Summary/Abstract: Education and learning are ongoing process which take place in the course of man’s whole life. The constantly changing social reality and the general progress of our civilization cause the role and significance of life education to rise systematically. As a result of that, contemporary societies more and more frequently are bound to create systems of school and outside-school education designed for the adult. The aim is to secure providing of education on the level considered standard for those who did not obtain education earlier, and also to stimulate development and competence of the adult through upgrading and completing their general and vocational knowledge. The present research was meant to find out about the influence which the occupational and family environments exert on adults taking the decision to start their secondary education in the conditions of the socio-economic transformation. A growing interest on the part of the adult in obtaining education with the aim to raise qualifications, perfecting skills already possessed, or vocational reorientation are observed. As a result of those there is noted a rise in the number of centers designed for this category of students by the ministry of education, social associations or private citizens. The ones to enter these institutions are most often directed by practical motives, since holding a diploma of graduation from a secondary school increases their chances of obtaining employment and – at the same time – allows them to continue education on a higher level. The very high unemployment rate in Poland, which makes it extremely difficult for people holding low professional qualifications to find any job, has become an important factor to influence the decision to take up further education and to stimulate adults to develop their intellectual potential. Another aspect relates to the possibility of advancing in the social hierarchy, which additionally encourages to study effectively. Generally, adult people who are burdened with occupational duties do well as students, obtaining even better results than those who do not work professionally. To a great extent the family environment exerts a strong effect on adult students, especially as it comes to their being encouraged to start education by members of the nearest family. It happens quite often that they can rely on psychic and financial support from the relatives as well. Obviously, people who for various reasons did not manage to obtain suitable competences, do realize that their existence without having adequate formal vocational preparation is made very difficult in a country where market economy is advancing dynamically. Therefore they try to compensate for the shortcoming by taking up education in centers created for this purpose.

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