Students willingly leaning on school desks yet again!
Article Rewrite
Article Title: Embracing the New Direction: The Peter-A.-Silbermann Evening School
By: Pia Fredebeul
It's the usual end of the workday for most, but at 5:25 PM, the esteemed building of the Peter-A.-Silbermann School in Wilmersdorf, Germany, comes alive with a unique crowd: working professionals, parents, career transitioners - individuals making the decision to change their life's trajectory.
Presently, approximately 80 students are studying at the evening school on Blissestraße, with a capacity for up to 350. The student population has dwindled in recent years. The school's director, Mike Rockelmann (49) explains the reason: "The paths to acquire the Abitur have become more diverse. Many obtain it through the master's examination or the non-school Abitur. Our target demographic is shrinking."
Those who choose this path require one thing above all: resolve. The students, as the adult learners at this school are called, often work full-time during the day and spend four to five hours in class in the evening. They also tackle homework, presentations, and exam preparations on weekends, leaving little free time.
Learning on Equal Grounds
The average age hovers around 25. Some join the school shortly after their apprenticeship, while others return to the classroom after decades. "Here, you don't have teenagers facing you but adults who are voluntarily learning," says Rockelmann. "They are motivated, yet often fatigued. Our greatest challenge as educators is consistently rekindling the students' desire to learn."
"The expectations on us teachers are high," says Jeanette Stephan (62), the evening school's deputy head. "Most students have limited time - they want to learn efficiently and expect a highly structured approach."
Admission Requirements: Minimum age of 18, completion of vocational training or two years of professional experience. Until the beginning of the second semester in the qualifications phase, students must remain employed - only then can independent BAföG be applied for. The time to achieve the Abitur depends on the school career of the first educational path: Those with a Realschulabschluss typically need three to four years.
Why Many Opt for a Second Educational Path
However, what propels people, years later, to voluntarily return to school? Thanuja Solmaz (31) from Schoeneberg works full-time as a tram driver at the BVG, manages her household, cares for her two children - and is now catching up on her Abitur in the evenings. "In the past, I stopped attending school for personal reasons after the 9th grade," says Solmaz. "Then I realized that I wanted to achieve more and continue my education."
Her daily routine is a struggle: "Since I attend school in the evenings, I always have to work the early shift. Often, I'm up at 1 AM, work until 12 PM, manage the household and children - and then straight to school."
Despite the strain, Thanuja Solmaz is reinvigorated by learning: "It's much more enjoyable and motivating than it was back then." Her greatest challenge? "Finding the strength and motivation to carry on."
Lars Hoffmann didn't decide to pursue the second educational path until seven years after graduating from school. "Back then, I didn't see the point, and I was also grappling with a depressive phase and struggled with the school system." Now, the 27-year-old works as a media and information services specialist in a library - and heads straight to school after work.
His leisure time is only available on weekends. "Without a clear objective, I probably wouldn't manage it. I want to study psychology," he explains. He also had to reacquaint himself with learning: "But the school supports us a lot, for example with information events. In the end, it's like riding a bike - you never really forget it."
A Haven for Fresh Starts
For many students of the Peter-A.-Silbermann School, the evening high school serves as a second educational path - but primarily, a second chance. The reasons behind why the Abitur didn't work out the first time vary: personal crises, illness, lack of motivation, or other life priorities.
"We offer everyone who wants to grow personally and professionally a chance," says Mike Rockelmann. "Those who come to us have consciously made that decision. And that's what makes this school so extraordinary."
- At the Peter-A.-Silbermann Evening School, many students are adult learners, pursuing education and self-development for personal growth and learning, often while juggling full-time jobs and family responsibilities.
- Despite the challenges, students like Thanuja Solmaz and Lars Hoffmann are motivated to return to school for a second educational path, opting for evening classes to achieve their Abitur, gaining new opportunities for personal growth and professional advancement.
