An interesting vocational school model

Today we visited Sena, a vocational school in Colombia that has various sites throughout the country. What makes this such an interesting model for a vocational school is the fact that

1) it's completely free to all (it's funded through taxes that private companies pay) and

2) there are several different shifts of classes- morning, afternoon, night, and on the weekends.

The mission behind this school is to make training as accessible as possible to Colombians, not only training young adults in a trade, but it's also available to older adults who may need to learn a new trade because of a job change. Also impressive is the fact that their graduation rate is 85%. Each program includes classroom (text book) learning, hands-on learning, and an internship. In recognition of the importance of knowing a foreign language, students are also required to take English classes while working towards their certifications. Here are some photos from the visit to Sena.

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