The Federal and Länder governments want to significantly improve literacy skills amongst adults in Germany over the next ten years. To this end, the former National Literacy and Basic Education Strategy will be transformed into a Literacy Decade.

Adults will be offered more support and opportunities that should help them learn to improve their reading and writing skills. Over this decade, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung) will invest up to 180 million Euros in literacy projects, and develop course concepts and opportunities for self-learning.

The literacy and basic education measures will be expanded in the Länder. Concepts to improve the quality of the service will also be developed and tested. The establishment of regional basic education centres follows the approach of reaching out to the affected persons in their own environment and offering them new learning opportunities. The supported programs and projects are also open to refugees.

Source: German Eurydice Unit.