SMK-ESF Plus Guideline Educational Potentials Lifelong Learning – C – Projects to Increase the Graduation Rate of Female and Male Students

The funding program SMK-ESF Plus Guideline Educational Potentials for Lifelong Learning – C is aimed at disadvantaged pupils in the Free State of Saxony. With funds from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), measures are supported that reduce individual learning deficits and decrease the risk of delays in the school career. The program promotes projects that contribute to increasing learning motivation, developing self- and social competencies, as well as enhancing teamwork skills and willingness to take responsibility. Eligible applicants are educational institutions and public bodies, which can apply for grant funding covering up to 95 percent of eligible expenses.

Within the scope of the funding, student camps held over several weeks during holidays outside regular classes are particularly supported. The initiatives require that the participating group consists of at least ten pupils from at least two schools. Additionally, the development and model testing of alternative learning offers are promoted, which primarily support pupils with special needs in various educational areas, such as primary level, lower secondary level, or in cases of school refusal. Besides academic support, social and remedial educational measures are also provided to comprehensively improve the individual conditions of the participants. Scientific supervision and coordination of the projects furthermore ensure continuous evaluation and further development of the approaches.

Eligible expenses include personnel costs, material costs, administrative expenses, as well as services for the participants. A thorough project description, a detailed concept, and a financing plan are part of the required application documents. Applications are submitted via the Saxon Development Bank – Förderbank (SAB), with deadlines no later than eight weeks before the start of the measure. Evaluation criteria include, among others, the increase in learning motivation, the development of self- and social competencies, as well as achieving a minimum participation rate of 80 percent. Thus, the program sustainably supports the educational development of disadvantaged pupils and creates an innovative basis for cooperation between schools, youth welfare, and other actors in the educational sector.