How KCTCS offers better lives through education and workforce training: Opinion

Why are so lots of Kentuckians content material with reduced-paying positions? This is a concern we at The Kentucky Neighborhood and Complex College Program are asking ourselves soon after investigate confirmed that 75% of Kentucky’s undereducated grown ups have no curiosity in pursuing education just after large school even while 16% of Kentuckians reside in poverty and our median annual revenue puts us at 41st in the country.

Our study among the prospective pupils reveals that a single of the most important worries is the absence of fascination on the component of undereducated grownups to go after any type of postsecondary degree. Kentucky does not have a strong college-going lifestyle. The state ranks in close proximity to the base in the share of those age 25-in addition with at least a superior school diploma or equivalency. The very same is accurate for affiliate and bachelor’s levels.

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A Sept. 2021 report from the Kentucky Chamber states that at any time, there are as lots of as 100,000 open positions in Kentucky, and that 65-85% of all those work opportunities have to have schooling and schooling past a significant faculty diploma or GED.

Furthermore, projected position progress about the upcoming 10 many years in the overall health care/social expert services, transportation/logistics, producing and organization and info know-how sectors will further boost desire for experienced personnel. Recent occupation demand from customers and projected work progress put together with very poor academic attainment and labor pressure participation has resulted in a workforce crisis in Kentucky, harming the efficiency of business and deterring foreseeable future investments, according to the Chamber report. The situation is even much more uncomfortable when searching at our neighboring states. Only West Virginia has worse numbers.

Of system, our ageing inhabitants and retirements engage in a part in our shrinking workforce. But, if people of performing age do not have the abilities and training today’s jobs demand, Kentucky will slide even even more behind.

So, what is holding individuals back again when it comes to furthering their education? Of the modest share of older people who do have an desire in schooling and schooling, numerous have monetary fears, childcare challenges, transportation challenges and absence of self-self-confidence.

To these folks, I’d like to offer some tips: Phone your nearby group higher education. Higher education does not have to suggest a bachelor’s degree and it is not just for 18-year-olds. Our 16 colleges provide a massive selection of small-expression programs that get people started in superior professions. For people who want to make a degree, we provide associate degrees and have transfer agreements with universities so our pupils transfer effortlessly.

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And when it will come to price, KCTCS schools have the least expensive tuition in the condition. It’s significantly less than 50 percent of most universities. Moreover, about 80% of our pupils acquire some sort of monetary help, and most of that is scholarships and grants, not financial loans.

A excellent case in point is the Do the job Ready Kentucky Scholarship. It supplies free of charge tuition for quite a few of our plans, like people that are a semester or much less up to an associate diploma.

There are numerous ways KCTCS can aid Kentuckians have a far better life and make improvements to workforce participation by means of education. April is Local community College or university Month and it is a very good time learn about how Kentuckians can shift into very good careers.

Greater education and learning matters, and for those on the lookout to enhance the life of their people, community college or university is a fantastic put to start.

Occur on Kentucky! We can do this! Let us get trained, get to operate and get our point out going in the right route!

Paul Czarapata

Paul Czarapata

Dr. Paul Czarapata is President or Kentucky Community and Complex University Process

This posting at first appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KCTCS betters lives by way of training and workforce instruction: Viewpoint