Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather SportsThe ABC's of a GED: Part One

For the longest time, many of us may have thought the G.E.D. was just a cheap and easy route for those who skipped out on high school. However, changes are to come in the near future, which may make getting a G.E.D. a little more difficult.

 No diploma, no job...that's what Barb Millirans has learned in recent months. Once a dedicated factory employee for nine years, Barb was let go from her job from a break company that moved to Indiana. Since then, Barb has been unemployed and has come face to face with the difficulty of finding a job without a high school diploma.

 Because of she does not have a diploma, job opportunities have virtually disappeared. Barb is now taking the first step in making herself more employable. With her high ambitition and the drive to return to the workforce, Barb enrolled last month in a program at Apollo Career Center.

The program will help her obtain her General Equivalency Diploma otherwise known as G.E.D..

 Math is just one of five areas of general knowledge that she'll need to know before passing her G.E.D.. Barb however is like many, in a race to beat new state mandated requirements.

 The new G.E.D. test is to be fully implemented starting in 2014. It will a require that Barb and other applicants take the test on-line, by computer only, meaning no paper and pencils.

In addition to those changes the price will more than doubling from 40 dollars to 100 dollars. The test will be also shortened from five sections, including science, reading, social studies,amend math to four by eliminating the writing element. Those writing elements will be incorporated into the other four phases of testing.

The adult education program at Apollo serves over 4 thousand people a year ranging in a vast variety of ages.

Wednesday, February 8th kicks off Apollo's College Bridge Course. Those who want to know more about college or financial aid are encouraged to attend. Stop by Apollo's Adult Education Building. The program runs from 6 to 9 PM. for more information contact Joyce Tracy at 419-998-2993 or email her at joyce.tracy@apollocc.org.