Retraining Textile Workers

April 19, 2005

North Alabama textile workers who lost their jobs recently participated in The Information and Communication Technology pilot retraining program designed to enhance their digital technology skills. University of North Alabama professors taught two months of retraining classes to prepare program participants with the digital skills needed to pass Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certification. The most effective retraining model found from the pilot included night classes of two nights per week over a two-month period, plus a practice test pre-assessment of digital skills to enable students to target their study efforts on areas that need improvement.

The pilot retraining program was sponsored by Certiport, ACT, Kempster Group, CompTIA and the University of North Alabama. ACT is an international, independent, nonprofit organization that provides assessment, research, information and program management services in the broad areas of education and workforce development. The Kempster Group is a Palm Desert, Calif.-based strategic alliance consulting group. CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) is a Chicago-based international member organization working to advance the growth of the information technology industry. Certiport, an American Fork, Utah-based provider of industry-specific training, assessment and certifications, announced the successful completion of the pilot program in mid-April.

The Shoals area of North Alabama was chosen for the pilot because of the thousands of displaced textile workers who lost their jobs when seven textile plants closed due to fallout from the North American Free Trade Agreement of 1994, according to Certiport reports.

According to Certiport, the program demonstrates the viability of rapid job retraining for a fraction ($1,600 per worker) of the cost of other government retraining programs.

For more information, visit www.certiport.com.