Understanding a message from an authority. Reading a work schedule. Booking a doctor's appointment online. Checking an invoice. Interpreting news and making an informed decision during an election. What do all these things have in common? They require basic education – and almost always written language skills as well.
For International Literacy Day on September 8, the State Association of Adult Education Centers in Saxony-Anhalt is highlighting a topic that affects millions of people yet often remains invisible in everyday life.
According to the 2018 LEO study, 6.2 million German-speaking adults between the ages of 18 and 64 had low literacy skills – 12.1 percent of this population group. In Saxony-Anhalt, an estimated 200,000 people are affected. Many can read and write individual words or sentences but struggle with longer, coherent texts.
Behind these numbers are people. Colleagues. Parents. Neighbors. Many are in the middle of their working lives and manage their everyday lives using their own strategies.
Basic education? It’s about much more than just the alphabet.
Anyone who thinks only of reading, writing, and arithmetic when they hear "basic education" is only seeing part of the picture. Basic education encompasses the skills we need to manage our daily lives independently and participate in society: political and social skills, workplace-oriented basic education, financial and legal literacy, health literacy, and digital literacy.
This quickly becomes concrete: Can I understand my employment contract or an invoice? Read a package insert? Distinguish reliable news from disinformation? Use an app or fill out an online form?
As diverse as these areas are, they all share one thing: The foundation for participation is and remains written language. After all, digital competence is of little use if instructions on the screen are not understood. Financial knowledge is difficult to apply when contracts become a hurdle. Responsible political decisions become a challenge when election manifestos cannot be accessed. And the requirements for written language are also growing in the workplace.
Basic education is at the heart of life
Low literacy is not a fringe issue – and it says nothing about how intelligent, committed, or experienced a person is. The majority of adults with low literacy skills are employed. Modern basic education therefore starts where people live and work: at the workplace, with smartphones, health and finances, government matters, and social participation.
In Saxony-Anhalt, adult education centers, the specialist and coordination office for literacy and basic education, and numerous partners are working to better reach people in need of basic education. The topic will be particularly visible around International Literacy Day: From September 7 to 11, 2026 the state exhibition "No literacy? No thanks!" at the City Carré Magdeburg will provide information about low literacy and opportunities for literacy and basic education.
Because in the end, it is not about what someone cannot do, but about what becomes possible: filling out a form on your own, reading a story to your children, understanding a payslip, or navigating the digital world with more confidence. Basic education creates independence, security, career opportunities, and social participation.
Take notice. Reach out. Pass it on.
The new basic education campaign from the State Association of Adult Education Centers in Saxony-Anhalt, "A Course for Life," invites you to do just that. The eye-catching postcards are now available at many locations across the state. Take one and pass it on – to those directly affected or to people who know someone who could use support. A small tip can be the first step toward greater independence and participation.
Raise awareness. Encourage others. Pass on opportunities.
A Course for Life – Basic education programs in Saxony-Anhalt
Lifelong learning applies to us, too: That is why we use artificial intelligence as a tool when creating text and images. However, all content is selected, reviewed, and managed by our staff.
