FUTURE OF VO-TECH

Vocational-technical education has been much in the news lately. This fall, a delegation of members of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce traveled to Paducah to study West Kentucky Tech, that community's successful vo-tech school. Businessman Jim Drury, who employs approximately 1,200 people in the motel and restaurant industry, and who has helped turn a spotlight on Paducah's institution, has for years urged more funding and a greater focus on vo-tech education.

At the statewide level, Missouri lawmakers last year passed a law that requires the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to assess all the post-secondary vocational-technical education in the state. The board is to issue a report this June on their findings. Dr. Randy Shaw, chairman of the industrial technology department at Southeast Missouri State University, is a member of the Technical Education Resource Group responsible for gathering needed information. Regionally, several new groups exist to improve vo-tech training. The Southeast Missouri Training Group consists of representatives of local industries and the SEMO Carpenters Union.

According to Harold Tilley, director the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School, 80 percent of jobs in today's economy require more than high school training but less than a four-year degree. Both Tilley and Dr. Shaw are proponents of something called the "2+2+2 Plan." Students can receive two years of high school vo-tech training, two years of junior college training and two years of university training. A student may opt out at any stage of the program and return if he or she chooses. Southeast already collaborates with Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff and Mineral Area Community College in Park Hills, accepting college credit from these institutions toward four-year degrees in technical and health fields.

It seems clear that Missouri and local officials alike can benefit from a look at the successful model operating in Paducah. One distinction is the level of funding: West Kentucky Tech has a combined budget of $5.5 million, most of it from the state. It is also a post-secondary institution.

Cape Girardeau's vo-tech school, which was conceived as and today remains primarily a high school-level vo-tech center, has a budget of $1.5 million. This spring, it will offer 74 day and evening courses to adults in health, computers, office technology, technical, home economics and self-improvement areas. All these adult level programs must be self-supporting, as there is no money from state education funds specifically to train adults. This is to be distinguished from successful efforts such as the Missouri Department of Economic Development funding for industry-specific, customized training programs for workers at companies such as Dana Corp., which are run by the Cape Girardeau vo-tech school.

Clearly the time for a fresh look at Missouri's vocational-technical education has arrived. It is good to see so many leaders from industry and education taking a positive approach and getting involved in this effort. Missourians may want to invest some tax dollars in the manner that Kentucky has shown to be a winner for all involved. All will await this spring's report from the coordinating board with great interest. With the right kind of pro-active leadership, we could be on the verge of exciting progress in vo-tech education.