THE CHANGE OF EDUCATION POLICY: SELF-CONTEXTUALISATION OF MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS OF PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION

Based on general and special foundations ot the theory of management of education and theoretical approaches existing in research literature interdisciplinary methodological approach was conceptualised and purified. It enables to substantiate research methodology of management func-tions of the system of pre-primary education in the processes of shift in the policy of education of Lithuania. In the absence of methodological approach functions of pre-primary education were analysed in the context of positivism, often applying approaches of structural functionalism. Therefore, the link of pre-primary education as an intermediary link (with regard to the links of pre-school and primary school) lost specificity and polyphony, whilst in reality functions that corresponded to its status were attributed. Interdisciplinary methodological approach enables to highlight contextuality, complexity of functions of pre-primary education. Validity of the position of immanence determines such functions that are characteristic namely for management of the system of pre-primary education: gnostic, project-based, constructive, communicative. In management and in management of educational organisations the function is a specialised component of a managerial activity, which is characterised by unimality and exceptionality by ways of impact. In the discourse on self-contextualisation of management of the system of pre-primary edu-cation, global changes in education and management theories the educational policy in the context of social values is analysed. It can be stated that considering the valuable basis of educational policy as a key characteristics of the concept of educational policy, the formation, implementation and evaluation of the policy must by based on social values. Social values should be embodied in laws, express main democratic principles and ideals. Having considered the contextuality of educational policy, it must be noted that its relating with social and economical country‘s endeavours is inevitable. It is also important that many factors determining educational policy exist beyond the boundaries of educational system. In the context of high unemployment, increasing individualism that is characteristic to the post-industrial society, when social differences and inequality are permanently increasing, educational polisy must seek its aims.