LITHUANIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM IN RESPECT OF SENIOR CLASS STUDENTS

The aim of research is to ascertain, how Lithuanian comprehensive school students value Lithuanian education system, what its advantages and disadvantages they discern and what recommendations they present for its improvement. The research data were expressed in writing. The received answers of the respondents were coded. The most frequently recurring notional units were grouped until initial groups were found, called sub-categories. In the second stage the sub-categories were combined into categories. The qualitative research data were processed using content analysis, when essential characteristics are distinguished in the information base. The obtained verbal data base, referring to conventional content analysis methods, was analysed in three stages: • Multiple answer reading; • The search of semantically related answers and “key” words; • The interpretations of notional units. To guarantee the reliability of data analysis, the distinction of notional units and subsequent grouping was carried out independently by two researchers. The results of quantitative analysis were analysed and announced earlier (Lamanauskas, Railiene, 2010b). In recent years secondary education stage students feel a considerable amount of stress because of constant changes taking place in educational process. The essential education system advantages in respect of students are these: good preparation of students, acquisition of knowledge, good theoretical preparation, also good preparation for further education; free general education; a possibility to choose subjects according to demands and a wide choice of them. The choice of students' individual learning plan in the 11th- 12th forms is determined by: intention to study and to acquire a desirable profession, hobbies, having been acquired by students up to 11th form, the desire to know more. Also, the students choose the subjects which they are good at, and reject those which are difficult for them. Students pay rather big attention to teachers' qualification, learning atmosphere and to material basis available in comprehensive school. The essential disadvantages in respect of students are these: too big learning load and pace at school, students are overloaded with work, expensive education in general, especially higher education, very high fee for studies, poor practical preparation, too much attention for conveyance of information; annual changes, there is no stability, nobody knows what novelties are expecting next year, never-ending reforms. They are especially worried about reconstructions in higher schools as well. In students' opinion, more attention at school should be paid to the development of students' creativity. Also, a very important thing is the implementation of the newest technologies into the education process.