- Around 3,000 children and young people learn during the summer holidays
Around 3,000 children and young people are visiting summer courses in the Rhineland-Palatinate region during the summer holidays. They are learning the German language or expanding their basic knowledge in mathematics, German, and foreign languages through the "Learning in the Holidays" (LiF) program, as announced by the State Chancellery.
In total, around 300 courses are being offered in cooperation with adult education centers. Approximately 360,000 euros have been allocated for both offers, according to the ministry.
"It is our duty to support every child in developing their potential," said Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister-President Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) during a visit to courses in Bernkastel-Kues on the Mosel. "Language is the key to the world, the gateway to social participation, and the basis for social justice. A child's development should not depend on their origin or personal circumstances, but should apply to all students equally."
"Good and fair education does not stop with the issuance of certificates and the last school bell before the big holidays," said Minister of Education Stefanie Hubig (SPD). The additional offers have a very positive effect: "If children learn German specifically, they can keep up in school, play football with friends, or make new friends," she said. And with more skills in German and math, the start of the new school year is better, especially for students with special needs.
Learning German Better
The target group for the summer language courses are newly arrived children and young people - but also those who have been living in Germany for a long time but have only very limited German language skills when they start school. The courses focus on speaking and understanding, so that children and young people can quickly find their way around. The "Learning in the Holidays" (LiF) program offers courses for students of all grades and school types.
Schweitzer emphasized that it is a declared goal of the state government to continue to offer students a needs-based, free, and locally accessible holiday learning program. "For this, we have provided three million euros since 2022 and will continue to provide financial resources," he said.
The following is added to the existing holiday learning program: specialized German language courses for newly arrived children and those with limited language skills, aimed at improving their speaking and understanding abilities.
Furthermore, it was announced that additional funding of three million euros has been allocated by the state government to ensure the continuation of the needs-based, free, and locally accessible holiday learning program.
