In the past, people would go back to school and take their General Educational Development (or GED) tests for their own desire and self-esteem.
"Now it's about desperation," said Brenda Utter, program coordinator for adult education for Warsaw Community Schools. "Before it was desire, now it's desperation."With the economy on a downward spiral, and the job market in a slump, people are looking for ways to improve their chances to get a job. Obtaining their GED is one way people are hoping to do that.
WCS Alternative Learning Center Director Tony England said he's seeing about a 100 percent increase in students getting their GEDs. Due to the increase, Warsaw has an eight-week waiting period for applicants just to take the test to get into the GED classes, Utter said. Currently, the earliest a person can take the test is May, England said.
About 75 percent of the students are 19 years old and older. Only 25 percent are 16 to 19 years old.
"The vast majority of our students are adults," said England.
"Most are people who had good-paying jobs, but don't now," said Utter. She also said more English as a second language learners also are applying for the GED classes.
Utter said a year ago, classes had eight students. Now, there are 22 students in a class.
Nancy Nelson, the only Wawasee GED program instructor, said, "I had 20 new students last week, and I have at least 16 on a waiting list."
Nelson said that generally, in the past, people wanted to get a GED for self-esteem. Now, she agreed, it's out of desperation.
She teaches two GED classes a week, and each class is three hours.
How long it takes a student to earn a GED depends on when they quit school, Nelson said. If they quit in sixth grade, she said, it will take longer than if they quit in 11th grade.
"It varies," Nelson said, "and it depends how much time they want to put into it."
Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. also is experiencing a growth in adults wanting to obtain their GEDs. Tippecanoe Valley High School Principal Kirk Doehrmann said, "We have seen an increase, and we have seen an increase in need."
Valley's GED program is limited to 10 students, and there is a waiting list. The GED program is held at the Burket Educational Center two days a week for two hours each session. Anyone interested in adult education classes can contact Linda Tucker at Burket, he said.
"My number of inquiries has increased quite a bit recently," said Doehrmann.
The other problem facing adult education programs, England said, is that the programs are having to do more with less money. Utter said there's no money to add classes, but Warsaw could easily add two more classes.
Doehrmann said Valley also could easily add more classes if the school corporation had more money.
"Adult education is something we need to focus on for our community," said Doehrmann.
Warsaw currently offers three GED classes every day, except Fridays when there are only two classes. Two classes are provided solely for ESL students working to earn their GED.
Nelson said of her 28 students, four are ESL students.
"I have all types of students," she said. She's had students with disabilities, ESL students and a 72-year-old woman who wanted to get her GED for her own self-satisfaction.
Next week, England said, he is meeting with some people to try and get volunteers to teach additional GED classes. "Cash would be great, too," he said.
Utter said the GED classes are open to anyone. England said they currently have several students who are below the third-grade reading level.
"Those people are just as important as the people who are near graduation," England said.
Because of the efforts of Workforce Development, Utter said, there are many people looking toward Ivy Tech or other further training. However, before they get that extra training, they must earn a GED.
"(Workforce Development) is working really hard to get them back into the labor force again," said Utter.
A GED class costs $4,000, she said. England said that includes the teacher salary and materials. The program does receive some federal and state grants. Right now, all of Warsaw's classes are being "taught by 2-1/2 teachers and assistants," England said. Warsaw's program is open to anyone in Kosciusko County.
"The thing that really surprised me about this is there really is no 'type' of student," said Utter. The hard economic times have hit people across the board. "Every need we service has increased," she said.
Nelson said, "I feel bad when I turn people down, but I'll try to get them in (the GED class) as soon as possible."
"Anything we can do to get people their GED," said Doehrmann, "we'll take care of it."
