Technical colleges increase enrollment

Enrollment at Georgia's technical colleges is climbing, and officials say the economy has everything to do with it.
This comes at a time when some of the state's technical colleges are merging. There is also a proposal to make Georgia's two year colleges a part of the technical college system.
When Central Georgia Technical College in Macon opened its winter quarter this week, enrollment was up 14-percent over last year. Officials say there's a marked increase in most of the 33 technical colleges across the state.
James Harvey is with Central Georgia Tech. He says in an economic downturn you see people heading back to the classroom.

"This is an interesting situation where so many people are being laid off, if you look at the national economy, that now is a good time for people to come back and brush up on new skills, maybe focus on a new career."

Harvey says many of the new students are gravitating towards careers in the health sciences where jobs are still available. Technical schools are able to train workers and return them to the job market quickly.