Only a handful of participants turned out for the latest high school equivalency orientation class held by the St. Joseph Adult Education and Literacy program Tuesday.

“We had a small group, about five is all that showed up today,” said Betty Wymore, AEL director. “We really are needing people to come out.”

The four day orientation began Tuesday at Webster Learning Center.  The required four day sessions was only recently implemented this summer.  Wymore said attendance, punctuality and progress has shown improvement with the new orientation requirement.

“We have had three different groups that have gone through it,” said Wymore. “We’re finding great success with those people.  If they put in that first 40 hours and they work towards their lowest error we’re getting them to progress one whole State level.”

The HSE replaced the GED in the State of Missouri for participants 20-years or older looking to earn their high school equivalency certificate.

“It’s a basic education and it gets you in the doors with employers,” said Wymore. “If you want a job that’s sustainable, able to make a living and have a life that you really want then you need to have an education that gets you into a job that gets you into a career path.”

Wymore said around 300 students graduate with their High School Equivalency certificate from the St. Joseph Adult Education and Literacy program every year.

The length of time it takes to complete a certificate depends on the skill level of the students.

The next enrollment/orientation begin October 21, 22, 23, and 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Wymore said she expects to see a larger enrollment during that session because of the evening hours.

For more information contact the St. Joseph Adult Education and Literacy program at (816) 671-4020