(Atlanta) –On the heels of International Literacy Day earlier this month, the Technical College System of Georgia is working to encourage Georgians who did not complete high school to purse a diploma by preparing for and taking the General Educational Development (GED) tests.

According to the International Reading Association, more than 780 million of the world’s adults do not know how to read or write. Closer to home, 1.3 million Georgians over the age of 18 do not have a high school diploma or the equivalent.

In its role of administering the GED tests in the state, the TCSG is calling attention to the critical need for a fully literate Georgia, as well as to its free local programs and services that prepare Georgians to take and pass GED tests.

“The TCSG is committed to bring our resources to our fellow Georgians who need a GED diploma,” said TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson. “They need to know that obtaining a GED is a life-changing milestone that creates more employment opportunities and higher earning potential.  Our goal is to make every GED recipient a greater part of the well-educated, highly skilled workforce that attracts business and industry to our state.”

A person with a high school or GED diploma will earn $7,658 more annually than someone without a diploma, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The TCSG has initiated an awareness campaign encouraging Georgia communities to promote GED testing, including communication with faith-based organizations, civic groups and community service agencies that can help the system recruit candidates for the GED. The messages promote services available to support potential GED test takers, including free local programs that are available through adult learning centers located at the colleges or in the local communities.

Persons prepared to take the GED test must first pay a $95 test fee for a battery of five tests, or $19 per individual test.   Those who can not afford the pay the fee may be eligible for financial assistance through a GED scholarship program administered by the TCSG. 

Additional information about GED testing is available by calling 800-94-MYGED or by visiting www.tcsg.edu. 

In 2007, more than 84,429 men and women enrolled in Georgia’s adult education programs overseen by the TCSG. During the past decade, the system’s adult education office has awarded more than 267,000 GED diplomas, including those received by 18,049 Georgia citizens who studied and earned their GEDs in 2007.

The GED Testing Program in Georgia is jointly administered by the Technical College System of Georgia’s office of adult education GED testing service and the GED testing service of the American Council on Education (GEDTS). The GED tests are developed by GEDTS, and the same tests are given in all 50 states. The GED diploma is recognized nationwide and is accepted by more than 95 percent of U.S. employers, colleges and universities.

It addition to its management of adult education and the administration of the GED tests, the Technical College System of Georgia oversees 33 technical colleges throughout the state and manages Quick Start, an economic development incentive for attracting new investment to the state and promoting job creation. In 2007, more than 140, 000 students attended TCSG colleges.

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