3. Limitations
3.1 Bulgaria
The official statistics data, the social research carried out on the topic, as well as the in-
dependent experts’ analyses allow us to draw the conclusion that Bulgaria has marked
progress in the field of vocational education and training. At the same time, there are also
some negative tendencies and problems which should be limited and solved in a short-term
perspective with the view of achieving the average levels in Europe in the field of vocational
education and training by 2010.
The most critical problems the system of vocational education and training is facing are:
● Slow development in terms of the premises and facilities’ modernization;
● Insufficient financial support with regard to the system’s aims and objectives;
● Limited contribution on the part of civil society for vocational education and life-
long learning;
● The opportunities underlying social partnership are not exploited to the full.The challenges in front of the system of continuing vocational education refer to:
• Enhancing the mechanisms for approaching information and for feedback;
• Improving the quality of education and bringing it closer to the dimensions providing
access to the European labour market;
• Creating mechanisms for motivating both the users of qualification services and
the organizations investing in continuing vocational education;
• Joining the efforts of all social partners, local authorities’ bodies and non-
government organizations involved in human resources development and in the
country’s economic advancement.
The analysis of the state of career guidance system brings the following serious limitations
to the fore:
• A lack of coordination among the programs;
• A lack of qualified personnel or a low level of personnel qualification;
• A lack of mechanisms providing quality;
• Underestimation of the individual’s personal development and consulting, etc.
The challenges and areas subject to change are:
• The need of an integrated national policy and a national strategy for realizing
career guidance at schools;