NON-FORMAL EDUCATION WITHIN THE FUNCTION OF RESPONSIBLE PARENTING

Abstract

The aim of this survey was to discover to what degree parental non-formal education is present within the function of responsible parenting. The questionnaire research method was used in the survey. For the purpose of this research a questionnaire of 13 questions was constructed relating to the forms of non-formal education, and another questionnaire of 10 questions relating to the parents’ expectations of non-formal education. The sample included 198 parents. Examination of the scores concerning the presence of certain forms of parental non-formal education realized in cooperation with the school leads to the conclusion that the parents possess a positive attitude towards non-formal education. The analysis showed that the parents’ expectations were not on a satisfactory level. According to the results, the fathers displayed a greater interest towards non-formal education (7.72±1.35) than the mothers (6.93±1.85), (p<0.05). Unemployed parents had a greater score (7.85±1.30) than the employed parents (7.22±1.71), (p<0.05). A difference in the acceptance of non-formal education in accordance with the level of formal education was also noticeable (p<0.001). Respondents with a high school degree displayed the highest level of acceptance (7.97±0.78), while the lowest interest was seen in respondents with an associate degree (6.41±2.29). Univariate linear regression analysis showed that statistically important predictors were: gender (OR: -0.23 (-1.24 – -0.33), p< 0.001), work status (OR: -0.14 (-1.24 – -0.01), < 0.05) and the level of formal education (OR: -0.33 (-0.81 – -0.34), p< 0.001). The final results lead to the conclusion that parental non-formal education supports the concept of lifelong education.