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Jena (dpa / th) - With the closure of the educational institutions, the corona crisis has torn a million dollar gap in the coffers of the Thuringian adult education centers.
Since the pandemic began a year ago, the loss of income has so far been estimated at around 1.3 million euros, said the director of the Thuringian Adult Education Association, Sylvia Kränke, of the German press agency.
"The attendance fees have fallen by more than half as a result of the failed attendance courses."
It is true that spending has also decreased.
But that was not able to compensate for the falling subscriber fees.
"Nevertheless, no adult education center had to be closed in Thuringia," emphasized Kränke.
The 23 adult education centers in Thuringia are financed not only from the participation fees but also from grants from the state and the municipalities as well as from third-party funds.
"We are currently in talks with the country about financial aid."
Since presence courses are not possible during the lockdown, there has been a boost in virtual offers.
"We now have corresponding offers on the net in all program areas," said the association director.
The rich from nursing courses for relatives, creative drawing and political lecture series to Zumba and language courses.
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The online courses are in high demand.
The participants would also wait for the opening of the adult education centers, said Kränke.
In addition, digital offers also have their limits, for example when it comes to correcting exercises in the health sector.
At the first peak of the pandemic last spring, the adult education centers were closed for weeks and local courses were canceled.
After that, classes were held in much smaller groups, and the adult education centers have been closed again since mid-December.
According to the association, there are usually an average of up to 10,000 events per year at the Thuringian adult education centers.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210308-99-730818 / 2
Thuringian Adult Education Association