BEGINNING this month, local residents that want to take the General Educational Development admission tests will pay three times higher than the previous rate following the State Board of Regents’ decision to adopt the proposed changes yesterday.
A $5 fee is paid for each of the five subjects taken to qualify for GED. With the board’s approval, the new rate is now $20 per subject.
GED is a nationally recognized equivalent of a high school diploma. Under this federal program, classes are free, except for books.
During the past years, funds for the Adult Basic Education program were used to subsidize fees for conducting GED tests in he commonwealth, according to ABE/GED Director Fe Calixterio.
However, the federal government does not allow this practice. ABE/GED had to come up with a feasible solution despite its limited budget, she said.
The expenditures for conducting GED tests had increased due to the escalating costs for carrying out the program. A budget of more than $12,000 is needed to administer GED tests to at least 130 examinees. The bulk of this amount goes to the fees of the examiners and the transportation expenses in bringing the test materials to the islands.
