Businesses and schools are still not ready for dual education. Education based on apprenticeship is familiar to 1/5 of employers and to 30% of vocational schools, a survey of the Bulgarian Industrial Association suggests. 2/3 of teachers are skeptic about the introduction of dual education. As main stumbling blocks they point to lack of interest from employers and to the need of extra financing.
The survey has found a deepening gap between education and demand and supply on the labor market. There are more than 200 occupations affected by deficits: technicians, mechanics, machine operators etc. and the output of vocational schools fails to respond to the needs of economy. The so-called dual education that includes apprenticeships was introduced to Bulgaria by way of an amendment to the Education Act.
