Recently, an ABC News program stated that 7 million Americans are illiterate, 27 million are unable to read well enough to complete a job application and 30 million cannot read a simple sentence. In Georgia, the undereducated cost business and industry $2.1 billion annually. Our state’s low skill level presents the single greatest barrier to our economic prosperity.

Locally, how do we fare? Not so well. Of those 25 years of age or older, 7,512 do not have a high school diploma or equivalency. Of these 7,512 residents, 907 lack a fifth grade education. Such a large population of under-educated people creates challenges to economic growth. Without a literate and skilled workforce, desirable industry will bypass us. This is why Tift County must embrace literacy as a mantra for our economic well-being.

Several organizations work tirelessly to change these grim statistics. On the front line is the Tift County School System which delivers quality education to our children. Within the last five years, Tift County Schools has improved the graduation rate significantly – from 59.9 percent in 2006 to 71 percent in 2008. Students are also performing better as a whole on the high school graduation tests and the SAT. This is real improvement which shows the commitment of the school board, superintendent, teachers and staff to producing a quality workforce.

Here are a few of the highlights from individual schools that we need to celebrate:

• Northside Primary made Adequate Yearly Progress for the eighth consecutive year.

• Ninety percent of the students at G.O. Bailey met or exceeded standards on the Reading and Math CRCT.

• This year at Northeast Campus, Tift County High School, more students than in past years completed algebra and took the Algebra End of Course Test with a passing rate of 72.7 percent. This enables them to take more advanced math in the 10th and 11th grades.

Other schools had great results, too, but this should give you an idea of the kind of hard work Tift County teachers and administrators are accomplishing.

Moultrie Technical College’s Adult Education Program has programs for those who are not able to complete high school. Many enrollees are mature students who realize the need for basic skills and high school credentials in order to improve their quality of life. During the past fiscal year, 525 Tift County adults 16 years of age or older enrolled in Adult Education classes and worked to improve their basic skills for a combined 63,830 hours of class time. Forty-two percent of these students gained at least one level in their skills.

Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County, Tift County’s Certified Literate Community Program is one Tift County group working to promote literacy here. This group sponsors one-to-one tutoring for adult education students using volunteers. Additionally, they provide GED fee scholarships to Adult Ed students to help defray the $95 cost of taking the GED test. In September, they will collect lightly used books for children who do not have books of their own. On Sept. 30-Oct. 2, LVTTC is holding a Scholastic Book Fair. LVTTC will also sponsor a logo sale during September. Area businesses will ask you to buy a Literacy Is a Lifestyle logo to display in their business. Proceeds from these events will benefit adult education students in their quest for better skills.

As you can see, LVTTC supports literacy initiatives for all ages. Its motto, Literacy Is a Lifestyle, embodies life learning among residents of Tift County. Are we becoming more literate? Yes, we are. Are we there yet? No. That is why all of us should support LVTTC’s activities during September.

Sept. 8 is International Literacy Day, sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). On this day, please take a minute to thank the many volunteers and professionals who work to educate our children and adults. Oh, and purchase a Literacy Is a Lifestyle logo when the clerk asks. Buy a book or visit the library. Take the book home and read it to your child. Tell your child that education is primo in your house. It’s the least you can do to change our world.

Liz Keith

Moultrie Technical