Governor Malloy addressed the state’s school superintendents on Wednesday and presented his vision for a state education system that better prepares students for the kinds of jobs Connecticut employers can offer.
Governor Malloy began an impassioned 20-minute speech on education by describing why as a kid, he loathed school. "..because I had a very different experience than a lot of my peers, having grown up with learning disabilities and not having reached any great level of achievement until late in high school."
The Governor said some teachers inspired him, while others did not believe he’d succeed. He said with Connecticut’s rapidly aging workforce, state educators can’t afford to fail any kids.
But Malloy says employers tell him that many students in the state don’t have the skills they need. He told educators, if schools do a better job preparing students, they will find work in Connecticut. "Because of our demographics, if we properly prepare our students in the next ten, twelve, fifteen years, we, unlike many other states are in a position to guarantee full employment."
The governor pointed to 1000 manufacturing jobs in Connecticut currently unfilled due to a lack of qualified workers.
He said state support of education should also be in support of economic development.