The article reveals learners' attitude to vocational guidance services in a vocational training institution based on the results of a quantitative survey and analysis of scientific literature and documents. It analyses the concept of vocational guidance, vocational guidance services and peculiarities of their provision in vocational training institutions including the analysis of learners' access to vocational guidance services in a vocational training institution. The article provides the analysis of results of the survey of learners (Stages 3 and 4) studying in vocational training institutions. Learners of vocational schools emphasise thelack information on providers of vocational guidance services outside a learning institution.

The article reveals learners‘ attitude to vocational guidance services in a vocational training institution based on the results of a quantitative survey and analysis of scientific literature and documents. It analyses the concept of vocational guidance, vocational guidance services and peculiarities of their provision in vocational training institutions including the analysis of learners‘ access to vocational guidance services in a vocational training institution. The article provides the analysis of results of the survey of learners (Stages 3 and 4) studying in vocational training institutions. The need for the assistance of a qualified specialist on vocational guidance is highlighted. Moreover, learners of vocational schools emphasise the lack information on providers of vocational guidance services outside a learning institution.

The article analyses functions and competences of a social educator as vocational adviser, as well as theoretical assumptions of them. The competences of a ocational adviser in Lithuania are defined in the Vocational Information Standard (2007), which stipulates functions, capacities and operational spheres of a vocational adviser. So far the functions and competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser have not been investigated by the Lithuanian scientists. The article provides a detailed review of the concept of competence and presents the experience of the EU Member States in training vocational guidance specialists. Referring to the analysis of regulatory enactments and scientific literature, general, cognitive and functional competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser are specified. The group of general competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser includes: social competence of a social educator as a vocational adviser; learning competence, competence of effective activity, communication competence, information management competence, project management competence, change management competence, and competence of research activity. Within the context under analysis, functional competences include: vocational information; vocational counselling; upgrading career design skills; co-operation; co-ordination of activity; investigation and needs assessment; vocational information, counselling and planning of activity for the development of career planning capacities; assessment of personal activity; efficiency of support; and competences related to education of family and community. Cognitive competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser include: the knowledge of the vocational guidance content; principles tor provision of support, organisation and evaluation of activities.

The article analyses functions and competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser, as well as theoretical assumptions of them. The competences of a vocational adviser in Lithuania are defined in the Vocational Information Standard (2007), which stipulates functions, capacities and operational spheres of a vocational adviser. So far the functions and competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser have not been investigated by the Lithuanian scientists. The article provides a detailed review of the concept of competence and presents the experience of the EU Member States in training vocational guidance specialists. Referring to the analysis of regulatory enactments and scientific literature, general, cognitive and functional competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser are specified. The group of general competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser includes: social competence of a social educator as a vocational adviser; learning competence, competence of effective activity, communication competence, information management competence, project management competence, change management competence, and competence of research activity. Within the context under analysis, functional competences include: vocational information; vocational counselling; upgrading career design skills; co-operation; co-ordination of activity; investigation and needs assessment; vocational information, counselling and planning of activity for the development of career planning capacities; assessment of personal activity; efficiency of support; and competences related to education of family and community. Cognitive competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser include: the knowledge of the vocational guidance content; principles for provision of support, organisation and evaluation of activities. The article presents a theoretical model of competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser.

The Paper, while analysing scientific sources, relevant documentation and results of the quantitative research, considers work opportunities of social educators within the vocational information system. It also investigates the concept of vocational information as the initial step of vocational guidance, reviews functional responsibilities of a social educator as a vocational information counsellor and realisation of these functions in education institutions. The Paper also contains the analysis of questionnaire filled in by 8–12 grade pupils of comprehensive schools, their parents, class tutors and heads of schools. It revealed that the role of social educators in rendering vocational information services to pupils of comprehensive schools was insufficient and, consequently identified the necessity to include the development of vocational information competences into the curricula of study programmes of social educators.

The Paper, while analysing scientific sources, relevant documentation and results of the quantitative research, considers work opportunities of social educators within the vocational information system. It also investigates the concept of vocational information as the initial step of vocational guidance, reviews functional responsibilities of a social educator as a vocational information counsellor and realisation of these functions in education institutions. The Paper also contains the analysis of questionnaire filled in by 8–12 grade pupils of comprehensive schools, their parents, class tutors and heads of schools. It revealed that the role of social educators in rendering vocational information services to pupils of comprehensive schools was insufficient and, consequently identified the necessity to include the development of vocational information competences into the curricula of study programmes of social educators.