Adult Education - A Key Player in Work Force Preperation

Last night I had the honor of congratulating 18 Medical Terminology students as they completed their course work at Hayward Adult School under the tutelage of their instructor from Kaiser Hospital.  At five o-clock today a commencement will be held at St. Rose Hospital to graduate 21 Hayward Adult School Certified Nursing Assistant students. Throughout California, hundreds of similar ceremonies are occurring to honor adult vocational students and to reaffirm the effective workforce preparation partnerships between adult schools and local businesses.  

The vocational students that adult schools serve are frequently those without strong educational backgrounds, with limited financial resources, and whose primary language is other than English.  For many, we serve as the bridge between non-productive and productive work lives.  With over 200,000 vocational students enrolled, adult schools are one of the key providers of workforce training in California.  At the same time, adult schools are one of the most economically run (if not the most economical) educational systems providing workforce training in California.  

To insure continuation of these essential services, it is important that the next writing of the Master Plan for Education reflect on the strengths of the current adult continuing education system and propose actions that will enhance this workforce training model.