SUVOKIAMI IR PATIRIAMI NEFORMALIOJO ŠVIETIMO TIKSLAI.

The article analyzes the issue of different understanding of the aims of education among participants of non-formal education (schoolchildren, their parents, teachers, and heads of various circles). The results of an empirical study showed that participants of education think that the principal aims of non-formal education are development of individuality through the development of children's skills, choice according to one's interests, independence, and pride in one's achievements. The results showed an obvious disproportion between the aims of non-formal education and the real experience of these aims. Schoolchildren's interest is their individuality (formation of a personality), whereas in reality, the aims of socialization, professionalism and self-demonstration predominate. In the non-formal education system, the aims of occupation and socialization are realized best; these aims are seen as minimal yet natural. Meanwhile, significantly more ambitious aims of schoolchildren's individualization oriented towards a child's self-expression and formation of a personality are on a rare real experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]