School gets cash boost

The Argus Group has thrown its support behind helping more adults become workforce and college ready with a financial donation to the Adult Education School.

The cash is designed to help the organisation prepare for the new GED test format that goes live on January 2, 2014.

It’s the first time the test has changed in over a decade and has been done in order to get more aligned  with new national college and career readiness standards for adult education, which have recently been introduced by the US Department of Education. 

The GED will continue to measure high school equivalency, and will now also provide detailed information about a test-taker’s readiness for college and career training programmes.  

It will have four sections: language arts (RLA), mathematical reasoning, science and social studies. 

The total time for the new assessment is approximately seven hours.

The existing GED test will expire at the end of 2013. Anyone in Bermuda who has started but not finished the existing test will see their scores expire if they don’t complete it before December 31.

Current GED students in this position should contact the Adult Education School as soon as possible to discuss their options.

Donna Daniels, Executive Director, Adult Education School, said in a press release: “The GED test that is being released next year has been designed to better indicate the college and career readiness of test-takers. 

“For example, it required adults to demonstrate basic computer skills and the ability to build arguments based on evidence — the same kind of skills that employers expect — so it is a measure of job preparedness not just high school completion. 

“With any change like this there is a certain amount of administration and training and we are grateful to Argus for supporting our operational costs in preparing for the 2014 GED.”

Alison Hill, Chief Executive Officer, the Argus Group, added: “Argus is a long-time supporter of the Adult Education School due to the excellent opportunity it provides to a wide cross-section of the community in helping them to increase their skills to better suit the needs of the job market. 

“Prevention is the theme of the Argus Corporate Giving Programme and education is an important element in reducing unemployment and anti-social behaviours so this project is highly relevant to our objectives.”

People wishing to register at the Adult Education School should call 292-5809 or email [email protected]. GED Ready — the  practice test for the 2014 GED test – will be available at the School November 2013. Approximately 250 students each year attend the Adult Education School. More than 50 graduated with a GED this year.