Lt. Governor Garamendi stresses importance of skilled work-force

“California must find ways to produce more skilled workers from its schools system or face an erosion of its economy, a state-organized panel was told here Wednesday. ‘The economy in our state will falter unless we make this investment,’ Lt. Gov. John Garamendi said in an interview… Garamendi had gathered a group of business, education and government leaders at the California State University, East Bay campus to discuss ways to prepare young people to find jobs in California’s knowledge-based economy. The common theme: Not nearly enough money and resources have been deployed to bolster the ability of universities, community colleges and high schools to train people to join the work forces of the future. ‘There is a need for more tax revenues,’ Garamendi said. At the same time, though, colleges and high schools must become more efficient at delivering effective education services and training to students, Garamendi said. He called for a complete revamp of the state’s creaky education laws. ‘Schools have to respond more nimbly to the needs of businesses,’ Garamendi said. Those who gathered at the event at the university’s Valley Business & Technology school pointed to a drastic shortage of job candidates. Some employment seekers struggle to pass sixth-grade math and reading tests given by companies such as the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. auto assembly plant in Fremont.”