Adult education in Salzburg is facing challenges and affects central political issues
In the last two years, the adult education institutions in Salzburg have proven their resilience to crises and are making a fresh start. But they also have three concerns for politicians.
Adult education makes a major contribution to democratic development and social cohesion. We accept the challenges.
Richard Breschar, Chairman of the ARGE Salzburg Adult Education
Salzburg (OTS/Salzburg adult education) – On April 29, 2022, the educational policy breakfast of the St. Virgil took place in the Bildungshaus St. Virgil Salzburg adult education working group with 19 representatives of adult education and 9 representatives of politics. Challenges for adult education and educational counseling were discussed.
The corona pandemic has also left its mark on adult education in Salzburg. During the pandemic, 40% fewer events could be held. The number of participants fell by 61%. At the same time, the number of online offers rose sharply. With attractive offers for all age groups, adult education in Salzburg is now taking off again throughout the state.
Adult education makes a major contribution to democratic development and social cohesion. We accept the challenges.
– Richard Breschar, Chairman of the ARGE Salzburg Adult Education
The ARGE Salzburg adult education has proven in the last two years that it can be needs-oriented and fast even in times of crisis. But she also faces major challenges. Richard Breschar, chairman of the Salzburg adult education working group, therefore called it three key concerns to the political representatives present:
Maintain base subsidy and adjust for inflation
Non-profit adult education supports society quickly and unbureaucratically in overcoming current challenges. This requires sufficient human and infrastructural resources. Maintaining the principle of basic subsidies is therefore a key concern. Since the wage and material costs are rising very sharply, an inflation adjustment is also urgently needed.
Administrative simplification of EU-funded projects
This point is an appeal to national politics. In order for the employees of the institutions to be able to fulfill central educational tasks, it is important that the bureaucratic effort in the processing of projects and funding remains as low as possible.
Sustainable financing of educational counselling
The free and provider-neutral Educational counseling in the province of Salzburg has been managed since 2011 with funds from the European Social Fund, the federal government and the city and state of Salzburg. Every year, more than 3,000 consultations in a wide variety of formats are carried out by 3 advisory institutions with 17 advisors at 35 advice centers throughout the province of Salzburg. Due to the end of the ESF funding period on December 31, 2021, there will be a funding gap of around 40% in 2022. As a result, in 2022 the range of advice had to be severely restricted and those seeking advice had to be turned away. In many cases, these rejections have consequences for the labor market.
The Salzburg provincial councilor Andrea Klambauer (NEOS) and deputy mayor of the city of Salzburg Bernhard Auinger (SPÖ) pledge their support.
Follow-up report on the educational policy breakfast of Salzburg adult education
Questions & contact:
Salzburg adult education
Mag.a Dagmar Ziegler
+43 660 6237 213
dagmar.ziegler@eb.salzburg.at
www.erwachsenenbildung-salzburg.at
www.bildungsberatung-salzburg.at