Status: 06/18/2021 7:04 p.m.
The adult education centers in Schleswig-Holstein are struggling with the consequences of the corona pandemic.
In the past year, both the number of lessons and the number of participants have almost halved. This emerges from the new state statistics of adult education centers in the state. Compared to 2019, the adult education centers were missing more than eight million euros in the coffers last year. Because the adult education centers are dependent on the participation fees – and many courses did not take place. So the money stayed away. Two thirds are financed by the adult education centers – according to the state association of adult education centers in Schleswig-Holsteins e. V. – from participation fees and income from contract measures. The rest of the money comes from municipalities, counties and the country.
Not all digital offers are possible
Even digital Corona offers could not save the finances. After all, according to the VHS, the number of lessons held online has doubled in the last year. But not all offers can be continued digitally – according to the adult education centers. Sometimes the course content was unsuitable for this or the technical equipment of those involved was lacking. As a result, numerous offers have been temporarily interrupted or canceled entirely.
AUDIO: Adult education centers do not draw a good balance (1 min)
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Interrupted training and short-time work
The consequences: Many participants had to interrupt training that had already started, fee lecturers lost important income and employees were put on short-time work in many places.
“Tense situation”
“The situation at adult education centers and educational institutions is extremely tense,” said Ernst Dieter Rossmann, chairman of the state association of adult education centers in Schleswig-Holstein. Karsten Schneider, director of the vhs regional association, referred to the educational mandate of the adult education centers. “As a result of the pandemic, there is a higher risk of dropping out of school, which is why we have to offer more young people opportunities in second education. In addition, there is an increased need for preventive health offers due to the stress and strain caused by the effects of the pandemic.” All of this can be easily implemented in adult education centers. According to Karsten Schneider, the adult education centers also want to make more digital offers in the future, which are particularly popular with younger adults.
