Education equals opportunity, says Jamie Merisotis, president and CEO of the Lumina Foundation, in a commentary for
Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity.
Merisotis calls for restructuring the way higher education works to meet the needs of minority, first-generation, low-income, and adult students, and to position our nation for success in the global economy.
He writes:
"The consequences of unequal opportunity are more dire than ever. Since the beginning of the recent recession and through the last two years of the weak recovery, the number of jobs for high school graduates has plummeted. Nearly four out of five jobs destroyed by the recession were held by workers with a high school diploma or less -- and those workers have continued to lose jobs during the slow recovery. Almost all of the job growth has been for those with college credentials.
The drive to increase college attainment isn’t important solely because it empowers individuals. A more educated population produces a more productive economy that generates jobs. It is also a populace that is more engaged in supporting a vital democracy -- more voting and volunteering, a greater appreciation for diversity and global awareness, and a higher quality of life."
Read the full commentary
here.