For adults who wish to pursue a high school certification and workforce training, several programs are available at no cost through Pearl River Community College.

PRCC Assistant Director of Adult Education Ruby Smith, said enrollment in adult education courses is open this week at the Poplarville campus. The courses are free and designed to help people who weren’t able to finish high school.

“Our goal is to help people enter the workforce to make a sustainable wage for themselves and their family,” Smith said.

High school accreditation courses are available to teach individuals the skills they need to pass the GED or HiSET exam. She said both of these exams allow adults to receive a high school equivalent diploma. The courses themselves are free, but the GED and HiSET exams cost $120 and $85 respectively to take.

In addition to these classes, workforce skill training called Smart Start is also offered free of cost. Smith said these classes teach adults budgeting skills, interview skills, how to dress in the workplace, timeliness and other basic skills to help individuals not only obtain a job, but keep it as well. 

In Pearl River County, PRCC has three adult education locations, one on the main campus in Poplarville and two in Picayune. Open registration for the Poplarville location will be this week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at either 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. The classes will take place Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon, or in the afternoons on Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 7:30 p.m.

In Picayune, classes are currently being held at the WIN Job Center at 2005 Wildwood Road. Smith said those classes are usually full, but interested applicants can contact Gail McMillian at 601-403-1439 for availability updates.

Smith said classes are usually also held at the Picayune Memorial High School Career and Technology Center, but those classes are currently on hold. While there is not a definite date for classes to resume at the center, Smith said they are tentatively hoping to reopen by the end of 2018. When classes at the Career and Technology Center reopen, ESL courses will also be available for individuals who need to improve their English language fluency.

Smith said HiSET and GED exams are available each week at the Poplarville campus’ library. HiSET exams are available every Tuesday and Thursday and GED exams are available every Wednesday.