The financial stability of vital social programs is under threat across Germany, as municipalities struggle with increasing costs and insufficient funding. This is exemplified by the potential closure of three “Lernwerkstätten” – learning workshops – in the Brandenburg Landkreis Oberhavel, which provide crucial support to at-risk students like 16-year-old John.
Lernwerkstatt: Chance auf einen Neuanfang
The Lernwerkstätten offer a lifeline to students who have fallen behind or disengaged from traditional schooling. John, who previously skipped school regularly, now attends daily, having learned the importance of rules and respectful interaction within the workshop’s supportive environment. The workshops supplement regular schooling, providing small-group instruction tailored to individual needs, such as addressing concentration difficulties or extended absences.
Weniger Leistungsdruck, mehr Förderung
Teachers at the Lernwerkstätten, like English instructor Dana Petzold, prioritize basic needs over academic pressure. The focus is on consistent attendance and creating a safe learning environment, recognizing that students struggling with engagement require a different approach than traditional classrooms.
Drei Standorte vor der Schließung
However, these vital programs are now at risk. The five Lernwerkstätten in Oberhavel, operated by the “Sozialpädagogisches Institut” foundation, are facing funding cuts. Funding from the European Social Fund ended three years ago, and both the state of Brandenburg and the Landkreis Oberhavel are now planning to withdraw their financial support this year. The Landkreis maintains it cannot shoulder the costs alone, emphasizing the need for a fair distribution of expenses between the federal, state, and local levels.
Kommunen dringen auf Neuverteilung
The potential loss of these workshops is not an isolated incident. The German Association of Cities and Municipalities reports that many communities nationwide are facing similar financial pressures, particularly in the social sector, describing the situation as “desastrous.” Association President Ralph Spiegler (SPD) is calling for a fundamental redistribution of costs, arguing that without greater participation from the federal and state governments, municipalities will be unable to fulfill their responsibilities.
Forderung nach fester Drittelregel
To secure the future of programs like the Lernwerkstätten, the Association is advocating for a fixed cost-sharing model: a one-third contribution from each level of government – federal, state, and municipal – for core social services, including youth welfare, disability support, and long-term care. This, they estimate, would relieve municipalities of approximately 30 billion euros annually.
Der Bedarf ist sogar noch viel größer
Dorothea Prossel, the head of the Lernwerkstätten, emphasizes the critical role these programs play in preventing students from dropping out of the education system altogether. Demand for places currently exceeds capacity, with students frequently placed on waiting lists.
Hoffnung auf eine politische Lösung
The Oberhavel district council will decide on its budget at the end of February. Staff and students at the Lernwerkstätten are planning protests in hopes of influencing the decision and securing continued funding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Lernwerkstatt?
A Lernwerkstatt, or learning workshop, is a supplementary educational program that provides support to students who are struggling in traditional school settings. They offer small-group instruction and individualized attention to address specific learning challenges.
What is the Deutscher Städte- und Gemeindebund?
The Deutscher Städte- und Gemeindebund is the German Association of Cities and Municipalities, an organization that represents the interests of local governments in Germany.
What is being proposed to address the funding issues?
The Deutscher Städte- und Gemeindebund is proposing a fixed cost-sharing model, where the federal government, state governments, and municipalities each contribute one-third of the funding for core social services.
As municipalities grapple with budgetary constraints, will the proposed cost-sharing model gain traction with state and federal governments, and what impact will these decisions ultimately have on vulnerable students like John?
