NATURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION: IMPORTANCE OF VALUES

In recent years, both in Lithuania and in other countries, natural science and technology development is given emphasis to. Decreasing youth interest in natural sciences and/or technology has become a big concern. On the one hand, such concern is reasonable, because youth motivation choosing the studies at universities is usually directed to social and humanitarian sciences. Such a situation is determined by a number of reasons. Anyway the choice of a further way is closely connected with the values of the younger generation. Progress in science and technology is very high. Progress in the sphere of formation of values of society sharply lags behind. So, value component of natural science and technology education should become a priority in all education system, at all its levels. Values should be systematically inoculated, directing young people to become mature personalities. This means the ability to apply the acquired knowledge and abilities practically, to solve everyday life problems, to educate self-confidence, feel responsibility and be able to adapt to the changing environment and seek to save the environment, suitable for the man's existence. Values are formed not adapting to the situation “here and now”, but orienting to future perspective “there and then”. Value component of natural science and technology education should occupy a proper place in educational practice, and should be more exhaustively examined in a scientific sense.