CHARLESTON, SC NEWS - LIVE 5 WCSC Breaking News, Weather, SportsPromoting literacy during National Adult Education week

Promoting literacy during National Adult Education week

By Nicole Johnson  bio | email | twitter

SUMMERVILLE, SC (WCSC) - Millions of Americans lack the skills to fill out a job application, use a phone book, or read to a child. A Dorchester County program is leading with reading, trying to make a difference.

Chad Clifton is a former construction business owner, but the high school dropout has a new goal in mind.

"I decided to further my education and complete my high school, by getting a GED," Clifton said. "I want to go back to college to further my education and be in the medical field."

Now at age 34, a father of two, and part-time construction worker, Clifton takes part in morning classes at the Adult Education Center in Summerville. It's a Dorchester District Two School District-affiliated program.

The county is providing adult citizens with classes to improve literacy, math, and computer skills, and it is helping people who use English as a second language improve their speaking and writing.

"To be successful and to be a productive member of your community, you can no longer just live on the basic skills. You need to complete at a high school level and then go beyond to a two-year and four-year degree. Our economy depends on it," Adult Education director Julie Anne Kornaherens said.

Dorchester County Adult Education says surveys show more than 93-million American adults have basic or below basic literacy, limiting their ability to advance at work or advance their education, and countywide more than 17% of adults have a high school credential for ages 25 and up.

Participants in Dorchester County Adult Education hope they won't be part of these statistics much longer. Clifton hopes that by improving his math and reading skills prior to taking the GED exam, it will be life-changing for himself and his family.

"Hope it's very life changing. Get this and go for the next step, go on to college, start a real career, so you can do what I need to do, make some pretty good money, and support my family," Clifton said.

About 2,500 Dorchester County residents participate in one of the education center's programs each year. Hundreds of those individuals receive their high school credentials or career readiness certificates.

There is a fee to take part in Dorchester County Adult Education programs. They are also funded by state and federal money, and Dorchester District Two Schools.

This week is the National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.

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