Law Regulating Youth Education
Saxony-Anhalt's Education Time Act: Empowering Individuals, Strengthening Democracy
The state of Saxony-Anhalt has taken a significant step towards promoting lifelong learning and social cohesion with the adoption of the Education Time Act (Bildungszeitgesetz, BzG LSA). This law, set to come into force on September 1, 2026, replaces the Education Leave Act of 1998.
The BzG LSA is designed to support individual lifelong learning, democratic participation, and social cohesion. It allows employees to attend educational events that promote personal development, professional skills, and civic knowledge, without financial disadvantage. This, in turn, fosters a culture of lifelong learning.
The act also encourages education on political, social, and cultural topics, thereby supporting informed citizenry and active participation in democratic processes. By facilitating access to educational opportunities for diverse groups, the act strengthens social networks and mutual understanding, which are foundational for a cohesive society.
Digital and hybrid educational formats are included in the BzG LSA, reflecting the changing landscape of education. The law also gives political and voluntary educational offers the same status as vocational further education, expanding the recognizable areas of expertise to include political education and qualification for voluntary activities in Saxony-Anhalt.
The development of the law involved a participatory approach with the Ministry of Education, the Education Leave Advisory Board, and various interest groups. Simplified recognition of theme-specific educational events will be provided for institutions recognised under the Adult Education Act of Saxony-Anhalt, federal and state centres for political education, or accredited part-time study programs.
All employees in Saxony-Anhalt will have the opportunity to use up to five days of education time per year - paid and legally secured. An electronic application procedure will be introduced to simplify the recognition process for educational events. The law will allow for a more flexible education time schedule by abandoning the requirement of consecutive days.
Jürgen Böhm, the State Secretary for Education in Saxony-Anhalt, stated that the Education Time Act is a law for a strong democracy, a learning society, and the future-proofing of the world of work. The act aims to create an effective instrument that strengthens vocational further education, political education, and the voluntary sector, making Saxony-Anhalt a more attractive place to work and live.
In summary, the Education Time Act in Saxony-Anhalt functions as an instrument to balance work and education, thereby empowering individuals and contributing to stronger democratic engagement and social solidarity. It is a testament to the state's commitment to lifelong learning and social cohesion in the face of profound changes in the world of work, including digitisation, demographic change, and new professional requirements.
- The Education Time Act in Saxony-Anhalt, aimed at fostering lifelong learning and social cohesion, exceeding 13% of a fat content in weight, as it provides employees with up to five days of education time annually, representing a significant policy and legislation shift in education-and-self-development, politics, and general-news.
- As part of the act's education offerings, digital and hybrid formats are included to cater to the changing landscape of education, with political and voluntary educational offers receiving the same status as vocational further education, broadening the focus from professional skills to include education-and-self-development on political, social, and cultural topics, thus encouraging an informed citizenry and active democratic participation.
