Many seniors keep themselves mentally fit and want to keep their finger on the pulse of the times into old age. This requires nationwide educational opportunities, says the state advisory board for senior citizens. So far, there have been too few of them – a topic for the elderly people’s parliament in Schwerin Castle.
Schwerin (dpa/mv) – According to the state advisory board for senior citizens, lifelong learning must continue after retirement and be promoted across the board by the state. “So far, it has been the case nationwide that lifelong learning ends at the age of 65,” criticized Bernd Rosenheinrich, chairman of the state senior citizens’ advisory board. “After that, the offers are voluntary, for example through senior academies at the universities.” But this is dependent on the financial possibilities of the institutions and there is rather a decline to be noted. Courses offered by adult education centers cost money and prices rose.
Rosenheinrich calls for a state strategy for lifelong learning into old age. It must be clarified who is included, such as museums. The country has to finance it. So far, according to Rosenheinrich, there have only been isolated offers from the state, such as the Senior Trainer or Silver Surfer projects, which teach other seniors how to use smartphones and tablets. “We demand something consistent and also for rural areas,” said Rosenheinrich.
The topic was put on the agenda of the elderly parliament on Thursday in Schwerin Castle. Every two years, representatives of the older generation meet there to discuss demands and talk to politicians.
Rosenheinrich counts the passing of the Senior Citizens’ Participation Act a decade ago as one of the greatest successes of previous senior citizens’ parliaments. Since 2010, the Senior Citizens’ Advisory Board has been asked for its opinion on draft laws and regulations affecting older people on this basis. This has been the case around 180 times so far – an important thing, according to Rosenheinrich.
