Adult education centers in MV: fee explosion comes into force in 2026!

Adult education centers in MV: fee explosion comes into force in 2026!

There are worrying developments for adult education centers in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. As nordkurier.de reports, more than 40,000 adult education students are affected by planned fee increases. The Ludwigslust-Parchim district council has decided to increase the fees for the adult education center from 6.15 euros to up to 8.80 euros per teaching unit. This price adjustment will take effect on January 1, 2026.

Particularly explosive: The Rostock Adult Education Center has already announced an increase in participant fees by an average of 35 percent for July 1, 2024. The Mecklenburg Lake District Adult Education Center will also adjust its prices at the beginning of 2025. Northwest Mecklenburg is planning similar increases for the 2026/27 school year. The fees in the country currently fluctuate between 3.50 euros and over 6.00 euros per teaching unit.

Financial burdens affect community colleges

The increasing costs for rooms, energy and course instructors are the main reasons for these fee increases. As the association director Ines Poloski-Schmidt criticizes, the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has kept its subsidies for adult education centers constant at 1.9 million euros annually for 23 years, without any adjustment for inflation. In the meantime, the price level has risen by almost 45 percent, which is reaching the financial limits of the adult education centers. Poloski-Schmidt appeals to the state government to finally adjust the subsidies to the inflation rate.

But community colleges not only offer flexible pricing, but also a wide range of courses. From foreign languages ​​to hula hooping, yoga and oriental cooking, there is something for everyone. Particularly noteworthy are the basic education courses, which are offered free of charge to give everyone the opportunity to learn to read or write or to catch up on school qualifications.

Digital future and low-threshold offers

Against the backdrop of the rapidly advancing digital transformation, adult education centers offer low-threshold, practical educational offerings for all age groups. According to the educational policy portal, volkshochschule.de, courses on digital technologies, such as basic courses for computers and smartphones, programming workshops and training on artificial intelligence, are offered. These offers are intended to help reduce fears about the digital future and promote digital skills.

At a time when many are losing touch with technological changes, it is becoming increasingly important to empower people to perceive digital technologies as an enrichment and not a threat. Community colleges play a crucial role in promoting an informed and critically thinking digital society. They strengthen society by offering everyone the opportunity to participate digitally.

Whether in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania or elsewhere: The educational landscape must be designed to be future-proof so that everyone can find their place in the digital world and is not left behind. In these turbulent times, when education is more in demand than ever, a good part of the responsibility lies with politicians to ensure the financing of adult education centers and to adapt it to the actual costs.