ВИЗНАЧЕННЯ ПОНЯТТЯ «ДОРОСЛІСТЬ» У КРАЇНАХ ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОЇ ТА СХІДНОЇ ЄВРОПИ

Abstract

The educational system of Ukraine is at the stage of active reformation and entry into a single world educational space. The regulation of the legislative framework, the development of pedagogical theory and practice, the active use of valuable pedagogical experience of the leading countries of the world promotes the integration of Ukraine into a single educational space. In recent years, adult education is gaining in popularity in Ukraine. Adult population of the Ukrainian state is convinced that education acquired in youth, whether higher or technical, today does not satisfy their needs. In the article, the scientific and pedagogical justification of the concept «adulthood » has been analyzed, the theoretical foundations and approaches to the definitions of the concept «adult learner» in the pedagogical theory and regulatory documentation of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Ukraine) have been disclosed. Different approaches to understanding of the above mentioned concept have been represented. They are social, economical, legal, biological, psychological. The tree stages adulthood (young adult, middle aged and senior) have been generalized. We have compered the age when people can be officially recognized adults with a real period of their mental, physical and social maturity. The indicators of been an adult are: biological age; mental, physical and social maturity; civil capacity which is recognized by the state and society; involment in working activity. Debating points in understanding the concept «adulthood » in psychological and pedagogical literature of different countries have been represented. The approaches to understanding and possibilities to identify the concepts «adulthood » and «maturity » on the example of the European countries. Adult person is a person who has reached the physiological, psychological and social maturity, has a certain life experience, is aware of the self and his identity, participates in such spheres of life as work, family life, social activity. Keywords : adulthood, adult, adult learner, adult learning, countries of Central and Eastern Europe.