Adult education in Oakland faces budget cuts, layoffs
Students in one of Oakland's GED classes offered by the Students in a GED class offered by Oakland's Adult Education program listen as thier instructor explains parallel structure.
In Russia, Murod Lutfiyev was a veterinarian. In Oakland, he is a laid-off parking attendant taking a General Education Development, or GED, course in a spacious classroom at a converted Parks and Recreation building in downtown Oakland. His change in status has not dimmed his hopes for a successful future in America.
“I want to improve my English and work here in my field,” Lutfiyev said from the front row of Carolyn Chin’s two and a half hour GED course.
“Every day I am humbled by your effort,” Chin, who has taught adult education in Oakland for over 15 years, told the class after Lutfiyev explained his story. “I have so much respect for what you all are doing.”
The class of 17 smiled at her approval and some fiddled nervously with their English grammar worksheets. Though a few students had dropped out of high school in the US and were now returning to complete their degrees, 13 members of the class said they had immigrated to Oakland