A Call To Action At Augusta Technical College

(Courtesy of WAGT-TV Reporter: Jonathan Davis)

Questions, answers, and "a call to action" recently happened on the campus of Augusta Technical College.  The big topics were education and the dropout rate.  The people who made this forum happen, say it should serve as a wake-up call.

“What we want to do is send a clear message that you need an education in order to be successful in life. Having a GED or a High School Diploma will make you prepared for entering the work force or going to post secondary school and improving the quality of your life and the quality of your family as well,” said Dr. Rosa Ishmal, Director of Adult Education, Aiken County Public Schools.

The panel consisted of men and women representing several professions.   There were educators, attorneys, and even law enforcement. Different positions with the same perspective:  the lack of education plays a major role in our crime rate.

"Maybe some of the crime rate that we are seeing, maybe some of the robberies that we see, does correlate to those that aren't educated and those who are unemployed. .And they are not employed because they don't have the skills to be employed. We feel that we can help them gain those skills,” said Dr. Ishmal.

Organizers say that when people think of drop outs they think of teens, but these educators say they are all ages. But there is help.

"A lot of our students have dropped out of school some of them most people think they are sixteen seventeen but we have people that have gotten laid off from jobs and trying to provide for their families. So this forum is an opportunity to open some doors and assist them in moving forward and getting their education," said Stefanie Bowie, Executive Director of Adult Education. Augusta Technical.

If you missed this forum, organizers say they plan to have another one in the near future.

Education Forum attendees sign in.

 

President Terry Elam, speaks to crowd gathered at Education Forum.