I am proud of the work we have done as a collective community amid the ongoing pandemic.
My main concern has always been the health and safety of our employees, learners, educators and partners. I hope this fall season has brought renewed feelings of promise as GED learners returned to in-person and virtual classrooms to start or complete their credentials.
We continue to work at GED Testing Service to process and create more solutions for learners that need flexible pathways to credentialing. The world of education and work is forever changed—the demand for remote options and the call for a focus on mental and physical wellbeing are necessary and long overdue. We know that GED learners come to us from diverse backgrounds with a common goal, and it is our job to help them succeed with options. Our personal lives and families should be a priority, and we know that our learners have this and other priorities that may make structured learning paths challenging or unappealing.
Our GED+ product has received an overwhelmingly positive response from learners, and we credit that to its all-inclusive model that includes access to an advisor. The Online Proctored GED test entered the post-pilot phase as of September 1st, and we continue to see learners take advantage of this option. The convenience and flexibility with remote testing provide benefits that we know our learners appreciate and need now and in the foreseeable future.
We have also had a number of employers start offering the GEDWorks program to recruit and retain workers. Many of our latest employer partners use the GEDWorks program to extend hiring opportunities to individuals who did not previously qualify for employment due to not having a high school diploma or credential. This aligns with the work we will continue to do as part of the Workforce Skills division. We’ve shared that we have a more significant opportunity to connect learners to employers and career pathways. GED Testing Service is actively working with other business units and programs in our new division to develop clear connections from credential to career and on-going up skilling/re-skilling. We have access to businesses focused on helping individuals develop specific workforce skills through platforms driven by user experience and interest, data, and automation. We’re excited to share with you in the near future how we will be using this to help learners identify their talents and pursue related careers.
I look forward to enjoying the remaining few months of this year as they bring a time for reflection and gratitude. It’s also a wonderful time to benchmark and think of all the goals we set and the incredible work we’ve done together to get this far. It has taken teamwork, grace, and support to get where we are, and we will need this to finish the year strong. We are grateful for the work that each of you do each day to change the lives of many! May you, your family, friends and those you hold dear continue to stay safe. Thank you for your partnership.
All the best-
Vicki Greene, President of GED Testing Service