Test Results

The IT students, 27 of them, sat for the National A+ certification exam last week.  That the test held inside, here at Lunenburg, was because of the efforts of our school principal and the community college.  This national exam is normally only given at authorized testing centers.  It took a great deal of coaxing and advanced preparations to get the prison facilities approved (and the OK of DOC representatives all the way up to the director).

Each day, for four straight days, in groups of seven (six the last day), the guys sat for the four hour test (two separate sessions; two parts). 

The results:  three full passes; four partial passes; twelve tests within ten points of passing.  Were the results all we wanted?  No.  But, these guys – many of whom have never used a computer – take classes without hands on examination of computer components (a major part of the IT certification is repair and service); they miss classes during lockdowns.  They work on their classes without daily access to laptops and no access to the internet.  They are seeking a college education under conditions few students deal with.

Only three may have received certification – this test period – but 27 succeeded.