Tech Skills Training Expanding in Black Belt Counties
A statewide workforce initiative that will establish a network of “learning spaces” within the state’s most rural communities has been launched. The $16 million in new state funding and support from Apple and Alabama Power, will establish more learning hubs across the Black Belt at libraries, community centers and schools.
In May the Alabama Digital Education Network (ADEN) established its first learning hubs at the Hale County College and Career Academy in Greensboro and a Rural Classroom at Robert C. Hatch High School in the Perry County city of Uniontown.
According to school officials, the program is not just a classroom but is a bridge connecting rural students to world-class educational opportunities, ensuring that geography never limits learning potential.
90% of all jobs will require digital skills by 2030. Yet, a third of today's workforce are not prepared, a majority of 5th-8th grade students are non-proficient, and just 10% of teachers feel confident in incorporating tech skills into the classroom.
Alabama Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton is sold on ADEN, "By bringing cutting-edge training, broadband infrastructure, and new opportunities directly into our communities, ADEN is helping to close long-standing gaps in access and ensure that every Alabamian has a fair shot at success in the modern workforce.”
The core focus of ADEN, the Apple Foundation Program, is an 8-week course that will teach in-demand digital skills like coding, app development, digital design, and artificial intelligence applications.
There are 20 more centers planned across the Black Belt region of the state, including one each in Greene, Marengo, Pickens, and Sumter counties in West Alabama.
During the launch of the program, Gov. Ivey said she believes the network will bridge the digital divide by bringing the power of technology and high-quality education to the state’s most remote communities.
“The launch of the Alabama Digital Education Network is a landmark moment for our state,” she said in a press release. “Alabama is a national leader in both workforce development and broadband connectivity, and this initiative builds on that success by ensuring every student has access to the tools they need to succeed in our modern economy.”
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