The BECA program consists of two stages: 1) Course One and 2) Intensive. Every BECA student has to pass the first stage (90 day computer course) to earn the opportunity to apply for the second stage (a technical scholarship, usually one to two years in length).
BECA had one Course One this year. 24 students started in April of which 23 finished in June. Of those 23 students, 19 earned the option to apply for a technicial career scholarship. It is our experience that between 50 and 60 percent of those eligible, apply for the second stage. That would mean of this group, 10 to 12 students will be looking for sponsors at the end of 2010.
All in all, not too shabby. 96% of the students finished Course One. That is the highest completion rate BECA has ever seen.
Personally, at this stage -- and with 9 BECA Course Ones under our belt -- I only have one concern. I'm not too happy with the place where we hold the class. The computers are often in bad shape, the software is dated, and the Internet connection is spotty and slow.
This brings us to an important BECA dilemma. I have always been dead set against setting up our own learning facility. I felt it was important as an organization to use the existing infrastructure in the community. However . . . at what cost? What do you do if the existing infrastructure cannot provide what you want? Or . . . is BECA being too demanding?
I don't have the answer yet. But let me tell you, this issue twists me right up.
In the meantime, I will bask briefly on that 96% figure and replay a few times the video recap for Course One 2010.
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