Unemployed, poor and uneducated: It is very difficult for children and young people from low-income families to achieve a higher level of education – unfortunately also in Germany!
Plan MSA & Abi gives them real opportunities for the future.
The Karl Bröcker Foundation has been supporting the successful project since fall 2017.
Since 2010, the Berlin-based association Plan Solidarität e. V. has prepared more than 700 young people for the intermediate school leaving certificate (MSA) examinations: free of charge, effectively and in a targeted manner.
The MSA (Mittlerer Schulabschluss) is obtained at the end of the 10th grade in Berlin and Brandenburg.
Several written and oral examinations must be taken to obtain it.
At the same time, Plan MSA aims to provide learning experiences that go beyond frontal teaching and grade pressure: The courses prepare the young people for the qualification through group work.
After Berlin-Mitte, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is the district with the lowest MSA pass rates – a neighborhood where the need is particularly great.
Child poverty here is over 60 percent and the unemployment rate is 17 percent.
There are many tutoring services – but most of them are too expensive for low-income families.
The biggest hurdle for the children: math.
Plan MSA offers weekly courses in math and German.
The courses begin with a one-hour session per week in math and then continue with a second one-hour session per week in the so-called module section.
There are also individual presentation training sessions and one-to-one consultations: Help for young people who many have already written off.
They are discouraged and insecure.
The aim is also to take away their fear of the exam and to be there for them if they have any questions or problems.
Over time, a good relationship develops between young people, course instructors and those responsible.
The project at the “Wassertor” multi-generational house in Kreuzberg started on a voluntary basis.
The course leaders now receive fees and the project managers a fixed salary.
And the exam results?
Impressive: in the 2021/2022 school year, 97% of the students graduated after the tenth grade, four out of five students passed the Abitur – including many who started with a 5 in math.
Image source: Plan Solidarität e. V., Berlin
