ADULT FOLK HIGH SCHOOLS DURING THE SOVIET ERA (1917-1991)

Life-long education is the important factor of adult’s effective social functioning. In contemporary informational society this statement is considered to be true. However, content and technological aspects of a life-long education have not been worked out in detail, therefore, those aspects are at the center of Russian and foreign specialists’ debates. Studying the development of adult schools during the Soviet period could have a heuristic value. Throughout this period we can trace effective and diverse experience in organizing adult education through variety of school types. Education of Soviet nation was seen to be a state priority. From the one hand, in that time it led to unification of adult education schools, form the other hand, it contributed to forming a base for education of various strata of society. During the Soviet epoch school system evolved, with school’s purposes and curricula changing: from fight against in 1920–1940-s, knowledge level renewal in post-war period (evening schools for young people living in rural areas or working at plants) to improving standard of life, providing opportunities for creativity and personal security (Adult education centers). History of adult education development in Russia that is being shaped nowadays may rest on predecessors’ experience to reveal some risks and learn a lesson relevant to new generations of specialists in adult education