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The author points out the cultural technique of reading and writing, which enables humans to organise the thoughts, to concentrate and activate the imagination: Thus, reading and writing are much more than the mere dissemination of information and cannot be replaced by any technology.
PIAAC reveals the deficits of basic competences within the adult population. To master this problem, which also applies to the labour market, the author calls for establishing a Federal Office for the protection of basic education. This office may be an opportunity for people with and without a migrational background, persons seeking employment as well as precariously employed people to attend vocational education and training programmes, which are funded by the government.
Based on the assumption that the findings gained during the PIAAC study provide an impetus for the development of demand-driven support opportunities, the author points out the needs for improvement in the field of basic education. At the same time, regarding the content, the author warns of constricting adult education in favour of competence and outcome oriented programmes.
Focusing on Germany, the authors provide an overview on the PIAAC key findings. In addition to the findings on everyday skills, an insight on factors such as age and educational qualification, which influence the characteristic of competences, is presented.
The article focuses on the presentation and commentary of the PIAAC study in the German press. Whereas the interpretations varied in the journalistic and political area, the associations and interest groups agree on the increased necessity for investments in the field of adult education.
The German Adult Education Centres (VHS) consider themselves as further learning institutions for all whose aim it is to address the population at large. However, the data basis on the extent to which socially disadvantaged groups are reached is restricted. The present contribution investigates to which extent persons with a low level of school education are represented among the participants of the Adult Education Centres in Berlin. The investigation is linked to previous results of the resear…