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To the editor:
Where did the 50 years go? From a small start in l962 in Bradford, Northern Essex Community College has grown to become a strong community college with numerous career tracks and programs and campuses in both Haverhill and Lawrence. A strong community college is essential in today's job environment, and it can offer programs which will lead to jobs, careers and lifetime education.
Gov. Patrick in his State of the State speech said there are 240,000 jobs open in Massachusetts but people still out of work do not quality for the positions, which require specific technical, computer technology-oriented qualifications. Gov. Patrick wants all community colleges in Massachusetts to offer training in skills in demand today.
Many careers today are becoming obsolete, and the role of community colleges is to work closely with local businesses to find out what jobs are needed to make the businesses successful and profitable operations. Getting extra training is crucial to keeping a job today. This means being a lifelong student.
Good luck to NECC in the years and decades ahead.
William Bond
Haverhill
