Beebe to proclaim Adult Education Week

Gov. Mike Beebe will sign a proclamation declaring Monday-Friday as Adult Education Week in Arkansas and Wednesday as General Educational Development (GED) Pride Day. 

The proclamation ceremony will be held Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the Governor’s Conference Room at the State Capitol. 

The purpose of adult education is to assist adults to become literate, obtain knowledge and skills for employment and self-sufficiency, obtain the educational skills necessary to become full partners in their children’s educational development, and complete their secondary school education. 

Every year, more than 50,000 adults are served, with more than 30,000 enrolled in at least 12 hours of instruction. 3000 of those adults were served this past year in the different programs offered by the Conway Adult Education Center of Faulkner County. 

More than 225 Arkansans obtained their GED at the Conway Adult Education Center, which helped them get jobs and/or enter post secondary education. Arkansas is one of only a few states offering the GED tests at no cost. Based on the number of adult education students who become employed, obtain a GED credential or earn pay raises, the estimated increase in state taxes paid by these individuals yields a return on investment to the state of 38 percent, or $1.38 for each state dollar spent on adult education programs. For more information regarding Adult Education Opportunities within Faulkner County, please contact the Conway Adult Education Center at 450-4810, www.caec.org, or e-mail rawill@conwaycorp.net.