[Status and value of vocational education centers in the system of vocational education].

The general framework of vocational rehabilitation has changed since introduction, in 1970, of the federal government's action programme to promote rehabilitation efforts. While the vocational education centres are major providers of vocational rehabilitation services, it has so far been omitted to adjust their mandate to these changed overall conditions. This reassessment is urgently required to be able, among others, to answer the following questions: Will it be necessary for the vocational education centres to offer occupationally qualifying alternatives outside the Vocational Education Act? Will another task accrue to the centres in the framework of the "upgrading offensive", by providing continuing vocational education to jobless disabled people? How could the gap between client functioning levels and occupational demands be eliminated? Which will be the future position of vocational education centres within the overall vocational education system? After setting out the changed overall framework, the present article seeks to outline the perspectives ahead.