As the new year begins, Career and Technical Education continues to be in the spotlight nationally. At the federal and state level, there is a real push for more apprenticeships and work-based education. At Franklin Technology Center we are looking at ways to get a manufacturing program started with adults and secondary students. We also are exploring sponsoring apprenticeship programs in areas like Welding, Collision Repair, possibly HVAC and others. It is an exciting time to be in Technical Education!
Franklin Technology Center is excited to announce that we have been approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to offer a Diesel Technology program next fall for adult students. We will begin to advertise in the spring and will be looking for adjunct instructors for a 720 hour evening program. Our emphasis will be to prepare students for entry level employment in the Diesel Industry. Certification towards a Preventive Maintenance Inspector will be targeted. We hope that some of our high school students that have been in our Auto/Diesel Technology program will take a look at returning to us as young adults to be further trained in this area.
Enrollment in our secondary programs is also upon us. We hope students will look at the opportunities that are available through our trade and technical programs. Nationally, we are experiencing a real shortage of workers in the trades. We have a larger number of baby boomers retiring than what we have entering these fields. The opportunities are wide open for students that enjoy learning by doing. Experience in the FTC programs is also a great way to decrease the costs of going on to college or other training for students that wish to do so. Earning a living while learning in college is a great advantage of experience in Career and Technical Education programs.