10 years of the basic education center: writing the future together!

10 years of the basic education center: writing the future together!

A very special event is coming up in Potsdam: On July 11th, the Basic Education Center (GBZ) of the Potsdam Adult Education Center (VHS) will celebrate its 10th anniversary under the motto “We are writing the future!”. This center has now established itself as a central point of contact for adult education and offers open learning cafés where adults can improve their skills in reading, writing, arithmetic and digital skills. Loud Potsdam.de The GBZ is one of the first of its kind in the nation's leading network of 16 basic education centers in Brandenburg.

Torsten Wiegel, representative for youth, education, culture and sport, emphasizes the importance of the GBZ. He describes it as the most important address for literacy and basic education for adults in Potsdam. “We are pleased with the successes of the last few years,” says Wiegel, who also emphasizes the city’s plans to set up its own basic education program area at the VHS in 2024.

The Challenge of Literacy

The need for such initiatives is also reflected in the numbers: According to the LEO study, around 6.2 million German-speaking adults nationwide cannot read and write sufficiently. In Potsdam there are up to 14,500 people. The situation is alarming because these difficulties not only affect educational opportunities, but also professional qualifications and social participation. Franziska Tempel, the head of the GBZ, emphasizes the importance of low-threshold access to education for social integration.

Basic education work has a long tradition at adult education centers. It has been supporting this since 2007 Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Projects to improve research on adult literacy and basic education. The development of new teaching concepts and curricula is also being promoted. The Alpha Decade, which runs until 2026, aims to support employees who need literacy in the workplace and increase their motivation for further qualification measures.

Support successful learning cafés and volunteers

The basic education center recorded a new high last year: the learning cafés were used around 1,400 times. These institutions not only offer the opportunity to catch up on basic education, but also successes such as obtaining school qualifications or being placed in training positions and new jobs. The funding mix of funds from the European Union, the state of Brandenburg and the city's own contribution ensures the continued existence of these important programs.

The role of volunteer learning companions should not be underestimated. They support the work of the GBZ in a total of seven learning cafés, which are spread across four districts. Here, learning together is encouraged in a pleasant, supportive atmosphere. The offers are aimed at all German-speaking adults aged 16 and over who have difficulties reading and writing.

The ceremony to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the GBZ will take place on July 11th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the science floor of the Education Forum, Am Kanal 47. Expected guests include Dr. Jouleen Gruhn, Regina Büttner, Dr. Tim Eyßell, Torsten Wiegel and Dr. Tina Denninger. It will be a day full of inspiration and will set an example for the importance of education and participation.