STUDENTS' ATTITUDE TO SCHOOL SCIENCE: COMPARATIVE RESEARCH IN LATVIA, BELARUS, FINLAND AND SWEDEN

The number of students characterized as science enthusiasts in all countries and age groups does not exceed 20 %, except Belarus with 34%. The number of students characterized as science negationists is average of 41% in Belarus and 55% in Latvia, 70% in Sweden and 76 % in Finland, decreased from the form 7 to 12. Students in Latvia and Belarus demonstrated a higher positive value practically in all 16 statements. The Belarusian students had a considerably more positive attitude to school science compared to the Latvian students, and the Finnish students - compared to the Swedish ones. For the students from Latvia and Belarus, school science plays an important role in developing their knowledge of nature and health, and in the choice of their future career. However, the number of students who see themselves working in the field of science is small both in post-socialistic and Nordic countries.