Abstract:

Contemporary world is featured by globalization, Information Technologies development and diversity of values, thus scope of the human activities in various fields become wider and more challenging. Youth of today must learn living in a constantly changing world if they are willing to live in a developed society in the future, consequently they must be prepared to create a novel economical, political, social and cultural environment.

The education system’s efficiency, expedience and quality are the crucial matters that are challenged all over the Globe. Therefore, the nursery schools and schools (starting from age 1.5 to 18) of Latvia are commencing gradual transition to upgraded learning material and respective change of tuition process starting from the academic year 2018/2019 to develop pupils’ knowledge, skills and attitude that are vital for the living at the 21 century. The project of the National Centre for Education of Latvia “The Competency-based Learning” within next five years anticipates development of support mechanisms for schools and teachers, municipalities and parents for successful transition of the tuition approach.

There are also available teaching and learning alternatives within the existing framework of the learning material. The scientific research activity (SRA) has been applied at education of pupils of a secondary school as the educational establishments teaching method. SRA is an independently conducted research work where pupils can learn basic principles, structure and methods of the scientific research. The scientific research work development contributes to a preparation process for studies at university. Thus, the pupils have a chance of choosing the SRA field and subject of the research work that they yet can develop in-depth at the university. Successful presentation of SRA at the regional or the Latvia SRA conference may earn university entrance benefits.

The SRA is an experimental research work where the answers to the posed questions cannot be obtained solely by obtained knowledge and skills - new knowledge must be learned. In the research work they look for answers to the issues that are important to the society or science, where the knowledge is still insufficient.

While working on SRA, the pupil is demonstrating skills of purposeful work and studies with scientific literature and other information resources, abilities to choose research method appropriate for the set objective, to analyse the collected data, to state logical and cause-based opinions, and to draw conclusions. At the same time, there are being developed analytical abilities, critical thinking skills, ability to apply theoretical knowledge in a research of the particular problem, as well as presentation skills of the pupil. Thus, a successive tuition approach is being introduced to prepare young people for living in the 21 century by developing knowledge, skills and habits that are based on values, i.e, competence.

Authors of this research, as experts-assessors of the Mathematics sector of Latvia, have made detailed analysis of the scientific research activities in the country.

Keywords:

Scientific research activity, the Competency-based Learning, preparation for studies at university.