Vol. 41, No. 9
February 14, 2007
CONTACT: JIM MORRIS |
Career and Technical Education Is Preparing
Students for the Marketplace of Tomorrow
Imagine a world without registered nurses, computer technicians, construction managers, engineers, preschool teachers, chefs, farmers, or entrepreneurs. These careers, to name only a few, all contribute to Missouri’s competitiveness in the regional, national and international marketplace.
- In the workplace of today and tomorrow, most occupations require at least some education or training after high school – an associate degree, technical training, or on-the-job training. Missouri’s career education system is helping students and adults prepare for this increasingly competitive workplace.
Gov. Matt Blunt today designated February as Career and Technical Education Month during a proclamation signing in Jefferson City. This is the first time that CTE Month will be observed nationally for the entire month of February. The observance began with National Job Shadow Day on Feb. 2 and concludes with the statewide LifeSmarts competition and Entrepreneurship Week USA.
“The idea behind CTE Month is to spend some time celebrating what career and technical education is, the opportunities it provides for thousands of Missouri students, and the impact it has on all our communities,” said Nancy J. Headrick, assistant commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Career and technical education prepares youth and adults for a wide range of careers. Career and technical education is offered in local high schools, area career centers and community colleges. Career and technical education offers individuals lifelong opportunities to learn new skills and pursue new career options.
High school and college students, teachers and administrators from many career and technical education programs across the state attended the proclamation signing. Participants included leaders from the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education, Missouri Business Education Association, and Missouri Council of Career and Technical Administrators.
After meeting the governor, student officers from the Missouri chapters of DECA, FFA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), SkillsUSA, the Technology Student Association, and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) met with their legislators to discuss the importance of career education.
Projections show that Missouri’s economy will need to fill nearly one million job openings due to growth or replacements by 2014. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, less than 20 percent of these jobs will require a bachelor’s degree or higher, and more than 80 percent will require an associate degree, postsecondary training, work experience or on-the-job training.