Blogs:

  It is imperative for the growth of our country to train more number of engineers. As compared to countries such as China that are filled with engineers, our country drastically falls short. You certainly cannot find many engineers here to hire. It is enough for students to acquire basic engineering skills for manufacturing rather than being geniuses or PhD’s. If this can be done, more manufacturing plants can be opened here providing more job opportunities.

  Engineers in our country could be trained by trade schools, community colleges or tech schools. Major companies can then shift their manufacturing units to our country rather than establishing them elsewhere around the world.

  Just as in every other part of our nation, the state of Washington too has a strong economy supported by manufacturing and technology. There is no doubt that our education system is not up to the standard. Urgent need of the day, without doubt, is educated workers. Not many universities, colleges and schools produce engineers in required numbers.

  The reason for this is many including economic, political and social.  This is why we continue to import engineers from other countries. Our workforce is, in other words, staffed by other states. Washington State is today home to some of the most famous tech oriented businesses in the world.

  The sad state of affairs in our country however points to a stark reality where most of the state educational systems are not conducive to producing graduates. Rather, students end up with just a high school diploma and are open to jobs only at the lower strata of the economy.

  According to a report, universities and community colleges in Washington serve students who enroll themselves very well. This state is in fact foremost in the percentage of students who successfully graduate in six years or less. The challenge here is to get students into the system after preparing them well.

  In per capita bachelor’s degree, Washington ranks lowest. In terms of undereducated population, Washington ranks very high. In the national high school graduation rate ranking, Washington is near the bottom with 68 percent.

  Washington’s leadership continues to face huge challenges in face of higher education performance that is substandard. No significant change is brought about even thought blue ribbon task forces and commissions are put in place after extensive studies.

  Higher education today is reeling under financial cuts and evisceration. Tuition fees are forever rising and upper classmen cost too much. Due to this, even though community colleges play a significant role, they are not supported by the four year institutions which hesitate to take transfer students.

  Though many of these issues arise from economic pressures, many others are due to lack of effort, planning and leadership. The blame is definitely on us and it is time to bring about changes. According to the report, postsecondary education will be required for at least two thirds of the job in Washington in the next five years. We have to find a way to get more students to attend college.