Dive Brief:
- The Lehigh Career and Technical Institute has benefited from a documentary competition over the last five years that pairs students with area companies to film videos about the cool aspects of manufacturing, seeing rising enrollment along with interest in the competition.
- Philly.com reports area manufacturers have struggled to fill open positions as they watch their workforce age and Jack Pfunder, president of the Manufacturers Resource Center in the LeHigh Valley, thought getting middle school students and their parents to learn more about modern manufacturing might help in time for students to choose vocational high schools like Lehigh.
- The Lehigh Valley public television station has gotten involved, offering to train teachers to help students produce high-quality videos, and more than 110,000 people viewed last year’s entries, surely contributing to the steady growth in enrollment at the LeHigh Career and Technical Institute.
Dive Insight:
Vocational education has gotten a bad reputation as the U.S. education system has shifted to a college prep model for a much broader range of students. There is an impression that steering students toward vocational programs, or even helping them understand their options, means having lower expectations for their success. Some high schools, however, have been reinforcing career and technical education programs. And importantly, this doesn’t mean steering students away from college.
Giving students exposure to career options early can help them focus their post-high school plans, whether that means a certificate program, two-year degree or four-year degree. Students can’t consider a potential career if they don’t even know it exists. And school partnerships with local industries provide opportunities for mentorship that will help students no matter where they go after getting their diploma.