Gov. Jack Markell is touting the success of the state’s Pathways to Prosperity program in his weekly address.
The program brings together employers, school districts, and local colleges to offer high school students hands-on, real-world training that leads them to professional certifications -- or preps them for further education in their field.
Pathways to Prosperity started two years ago with a manufacturing pathway and Markell says the first results can be seen this spring.
“For the past two years, its class of two dozen students have received specialized training, and many worked last summer in paid internships at Delaware employers," said Markell. "This past week, these 27 seniors received industry-recognized certifications, meaning they’re graduating with a competitive edge for future jobs, and with more opportunities to continue their education or enter the workforce immediately.”
The program currently involves 2,500 students in 10 pathways from manufacturing to computer networking to health care and culinary arts. That number is expected to double to 5,000 this fall as agriculture and food production pathways are added.
Full text of Gov. Markell's weekly message:
Building a rewarding career in growing industries today increasingly requires education and training beyond the traditional high school curriculum. We’re committed to opening those pathways for every Delaware student.
One way is through our innovative Pathways to Prosperity program. It’s forging partnerships between employers, school districts, and institutions of higher education to provide hands-on, real-world training to high school students. Thanks to the strong support of Delaware’s manufacturing community and the leadership at Delaware Tech, the manufacturing pathway was the first to launch. For the past two years, its class of two dozen students have received specialized training, and many worked last summer in paid internships at Delaware employers.
This past week, these 27 seniors received industry-recognized certifications, meaning they’re graduating with a competitive edge for future jobs, and with more opportunities to continue their education or enter the workforce immediately. They’re students like Skyler Wizinsky who, thanks in part to her Pathways training, has already accepted a full-time job in the manufacturing sector. Skyler and her classmates are trailblazers in our Pathways initiative which this year expanded to 2,500 students from every Delaware High School in 10 pathways from manufacturing to computer networking to health care and culinary arts. This summer Delaware businesses are offering 1,000 internships to these students, double last year’s number. And this fall we’re on track to enroll more than 5,000 students in a dozen pathways, including new programs in agriculture and food production.
It’s all part of our commitment to the Delaware Promise. We’ll ensure that 65 percent of Delawareans will have a college degree or a professional certification within the next 10 years – matching the percentage of our jobs that will require one. That’ll help ensure our people are positioned to thrive in the new economy. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.
