The TAS Köln is a state-recognized further education college that enables disadvantaged adolescents and young adults to achieve their final school-leaving qualifications. It offers individual educational programs, flexible learning models, and a supportive atmosphere for social equal opportunities.
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The Tages- und Abendschule Köln (TAS) is a state-recognized further education college that, as a central institution of the second educational path, enables disadvantaged young people and young adults in Köln to obtain a school leaving certificate[1][3].
The TAS Köln offers individually tailored educational programs to obtain the Hauptschulabschluss, the Realschulabschluss (evening secondary school), and the Fachhochschulreife (Fachabitur/evening grammar school)[1][4]. The teaching concept places particular emphasis on individual support, flexible learning models, and a supportive learning atmosphere to effectively serve the needs of a heterogeneous and often disadvantaged student group[1]. By combining daytime and evening teaching formats, working professionals, parents, or individuals with irregular working hours can successfully continue their schooling[1].
Annually, over 1,000 predominantly disadvantaged young people and young adults are given the opportunity to obtain a school leaving certificate in various time and organizational formats[3]. Approximately 70% of participants have a migration background, and many face significant barriers to integration that have previously prevented their professional and social inclusion[3].
The main mission of TAS is to promote certificate-oriented youth and adult education in order to create social equal opportunities and open up pathways to training, employment, or further qualification[3]. The organization sees itself as a strong social institution that requires a very high level of commitment and continuous relationship building to reach its target groups[3].
The values of TAS are closely linked to the needs of the target groups:
In addition to classic school leaving certificates, TAS Köln offers various other courses and support services specifically designed for the needs of its target groups[9]. Special offers include:
A low-threshold counseling service called "Come in!" complements the school program. This counseling center helps people re-enter school or work and provides support with bureaucratic matters, which is crucial for many participants facing integration barriers[6].
The "sustainability" of TAS lies in its deep social responsibility and its long-term impact on participants. The school operates sustainably by not only providing school leaving certificates but also by aiming to facilitate future prospects in training, employment, or further qualification[3]. This prevents further disruption of educational or career paths and promotes the social stability of participants over many years.
TAS is the recipient of the "Sunshine Engagement" award from the "Tages- und Abendschule Köln" and was recognized as an outstanding institution in the German Engagement Award[3]. The organization demonstrates that education is a driver for sustainable social participation, especially for the growing number of refugees who require intensive support[3].
TAS Köln is an institution of the Verein zur Förderung abschlussbezogener Jugend- und Erwachsenenbildung e.V. and operates two locations in Köln: the main campus in Köln-Mülheim (Genovevastraße 72) and a second location at Widdersdorfer Straße 401–403[2]. Registration is exclusively at the main campus in Köln-Mülheim, with counseling and registration times flexibly adapted to various life situations (e.g., also in the evenings and afternoons)[5].
TAS opens its doors to everyone who wants to shape their educational future independently, offering a professional environment where individual strengths are fostered and weaknesses are specifically addressed. By combining academic education, socio-pedagogical support, and career orientation, TAS creates the foundation for lifelong personal and professional development[7].
The Tages- und Abendschule Köln (TAS) is not an ordinary further education college, but a vibrant social initiative that understands education as a key to social participation. With its focus on individual support, flexible learning models, and a supportive atmosphere, it creates the conditions for disadvantaged young people and young adults to realize their chances of obtaining a school leaving certificate and thus a professional future, not just theoretically but practically. TAS is proof that education can always be started anew – and that every person has the right to successfully shape their path[1][3].
