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Incentive plan needs more work

For years, West Virginia has looked to encourage its youth to attend some form of higher education, whether it be a college, university or technical school. Finding a way to improve graduation rates among high school students and provide incentives was key.

Now, state officials want to do the same with college students, encouraging West Virginia’s colleges and universities to improve graduation rates and stay in the state when looking for jobs.

Senate Bill 32, currently up for discussion in the Legislature, would ask the state’s colleges and universities to voluntarily take $100 less per student in state funding. In return, incentives would be available for every state resident who graduates and finds full-time employment in West Virginia for at least one year.

It’s a nice idea.

Here is the flaw, though. Even if graduation rates increase among West Virginia’s institutions of higher education, if there are no jobs available, it won’t matter.

West Virginia still has a lot of issues when it comes to its economy. Jobs are not plentiful in numerous fields of study currently offered in our state’s schools.

Finding ways to improve educational offerings and encourage our youth, and even some adults, to continue their education is an important goal which can only be beneficial to West Virginia. First and foremost, however, we must find a way to improve our state’s economy and create new and diversified jobs.

There still is a lot to look into when it comes to this legislation. We would encourage state lawmakers to study it carefully and make sure it will create a program that both works and makes sense for the future of West Virginia.

If it doesn’t, then a new plan should be formulated when the timing is better.

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