Adult Education

Your first step towards a new future

Adult Education at OCtech is here to help you restart or complete your education. Our classes run on a six-week rotation. All students must attend a four-day orientation session.

We’ll also work with you to develop an Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) or career readiness plan so you know exactly what your next step should be along the way.

We offer:

  • GED and high school completion test preparation
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • Digital Literacy Certification
  • Career Preparation Activities
Adult Ed Logo

Contact Information

We are located on the OCtech campus: Building C, Room 120.

803.535.1420

Become a Certified Manufacturing Operator

Obtain and complete free training to become a Certified Manufacturing Operator (CMO).  Orangeburg-Calhoun Adult Education and OCtech have partnered together to offer you a direct path into career training and employment.

This program is FREE. Get started today.

  • Electrician
  • Mechatronics
  • Welding
  • Production Operator
  • Industrial Maintenance

Get started with Adult Education:

TABE testing is offered on the following days:

  • Tuesday evenings at 4:30 pm
  • Thursday mornings at 7:30 am

Report to Building C Room 120 for TABE testing

Call or email the office for more information or to schedule your TABE test:  803.535.1321 or  803.535.1420, or email: adulted@octech.edu

Contact Adult Education to schedule your Orientation: 

Call or email the office for more information or to schedule your Orientation:  803.535.1321 or  803.535.1420, or email: adulted@octech.edu

2024-25  Adult Education Orientation Schedule:

Session 1: August 5-8, 2024
Session 2: September 23-26, 2024
Session 3: November 18-21, 2024
Session 4: February 3-6, 2025
Session 5: March 31-April 3, 2025
Session 6: May 19-22, 2025

Available time slots for these days are:

8:30 am – 11:30 am
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

You must attend all four (4) days of Orientation in order to start classes.

Class Schedule:

OCtech Campus:
Monday - Thursday:
8:30 am – 11:30 am,
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, or
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Quick Jobs Center (St. Matthews)
Monday through Thursday
9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Lake Marion High School Technology Center
Monday through Wednesday
8:00 am to 12:00 pm

*Virtual instruction is available for students who qualify based on individual TABE scores.

Call or email the office for more information or to schedule your TABE test:  803.535.1321 or  803.535.1420, or email:  adulted@octech.edu

Fees:

  • There are no fees to attend Adult Education classes.

  • Students planning to drive to class must purchase a parking pass at the cashiers desk in building S.

Adult Education Staff

Renee Ritter

Renee Ritter

Adult Education Director

803.268.2533

C-120

Carolyn Fairey-Peeples

Carolyn Fairey-Peeples

Administrative Assistant

803.535.1420

C-120

Shekeia Hampton

Shekeia Hampton

College and Career Navigator

803.535.1214

C-120

Joycelin Sellers

Joycelin Sellers

Administrative Assistant

803.535.1321

More about us:

Orangeburg-Calhoun Adult Education, including all of its satellite sites, believes that education should provide all students with a wide range of opportunities that will enable them to reach their greatest possible contribution to society. To that end, all of our programs endeavor to provide a safe, structured and nurturing environment for all of our students.

The Adult Education program in Orangeburg and Calhoun counties is based on the “hub and cluster” concept consisting of a large center – the Orangeburg-Calhoun Adult Education program – serving as the hub and satellite centers located throughout both counties serving as the clusters. The key feature to the hub and cluster concept is that programs are easily accessible and can readily communicate with one another. Day and evening classes are available utilizing trained certified staff, teaching assistants and volunteer tutors. Training is offered in literacy, ESL, ABE, GED preparation, high school diploma completion, WorkKeys, job-related skills and computer skills. An open registration, managed enrollment entry and open exit format is available to meet the various levels of the learner and accelerate their meeting their personal goals.

Utilizing this model, the Adult Education program provides all adult residents in Orangeburg and Calhoun counties an opportunity to enhance their skills in all academic areas, regardless of their educational level. Realizing that the community served by Adult Education combines diverse cultural backgrounds and varying levels of mental abilities, a multi-faceted approach is offered to meet the individual needs of the residents in Orangeburg and Calhoun counties. Adult Education is open to any qualified person 17 years of age or older who has left the elementary or secondary school. In the high school completion program, students have the option of earning a high school diploma or a GED diploma.

In all of our programs, we believe that the relationships among and between the entire school community of pupils, teachers, administrators and parents should be based on open communication, mutual trust and respect. We are committed to ensuring that every person, regardless of age, in the community receives the best possible education. Our community cannot continue to grow in a positive manner with an under-educated population. The economic development and quality of life in our community, our state and our nation are directly tied to the education of our youth. With these factors in mind, it is our philosophy to design and implement unique, diverse and innovative programs in order to provide all of the citizens of Orangeburg and Calhoun counties an opportunity to enhance their skill level and become productive, participating members of our society.

The mission of the Orangeburg-Calhoun Adult Education program is to create, in partnership with the school districts, local businesses and industries, and the community, an educational system which best develops literate, self-directed lifelong learners who will be significant contributors to society.

  • Achieve educational gains and demonstrate personal and social development.
  • Attain basic skills competencies, learn skills that are applicable in a functional context, and advance to higher levels of learning.
  • Experience greater self-esteem and personal satisfaction.
  • Achieve his or her goal for attending the program.
  • Engage in on-going program planning that is participatory and responsive to the needs of the adult learner and the community.
  • Deliver quality instruction with professional instructors.
  • Establish a flexible curriculum that allows for differences in learning styles and instructional levels.
  • Promote on-going staff development and training.
  • Assist in providing support services to adult students.
  • Develop yearly recruitment and retention plans.
  • Collaborate with community agencies and local businesses and industries to promote adult literacy and workplace skills enhancement.
  1. Engage in on-going program planning that is participatory and responsive to the needs of the adult learner and the community.
  2. Deliver quality instruction with professional instructors.
  3. Establish a flexible curriculum that allows for differences in learning styles and instructional levels.
  4. Promote on-going staff development and training.
  5. Assist in providing support services to adult students.
  6. Develop yearly recruitment and retention plans.
  7. Collaborate with community agencies and local businesses and industries to promote adult literacy and workplace skills enhancement.
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