Vocational Education and Training in Spain: Short Description. CEDEFOP Reference Series. Panorama.

This publication offers a brief description of Spain's vocational training system and its radical overhaul since the early 1990s in an effort to adjust to the new economic and social context in Europe. Particular attention is paid to these three subsystems: (1) regulated vocational training that reflects the impact of reforms introduced by the General Law on the Education System of 1990; (2) occupational training for the unemployed; and (3) continuing training for those in employment following the recent signature of the third national and tripartite agreements. Other aspects, such as funding, the training of teachers and trainers, and the career information and guidance system are also covered. A brief section covers the decentralization of the vocational training system now underway as part of the devolution of powers from central government to the autonomous communities. The last chapter reviews current trends in vocational training and the outlook for them. Appendixes include abbreviations, acronyms, and a list of 9 principal bodies responsible for provision or regulation of vocational training. (Contains 20 references.)(YLB)