FAIRMONT – For those looking to advance their education, Fairmont Community Education and Recreation’s (CER) GED program has proven to be a viable option.

The program is for all over age 17 who aren’t enrolled in any K-12 school, lack a secondary high school credential, or function below a 12th-grade level in any basic academic area. For those unsure, an examination is given during the first class attended to gauge skill levels. Classes are held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays during the academic year.

Having day and night classes is an advantage CER Director Stephanie Busiahn said has been beneficial in many ways.

“We see some individuals that make it to both,” she said. “They want to fast track. Some’ll come to some daytime and evening classes based on employment schedules, childcare needs, all of those pieces. We see [with] some individuals it fits better in their schedule to do a daytime or evening class.”

Currently, 33 students have taken GED classes this school year, including those who have completed them. Class sizes tend to ebb and flow. Busiahn said there are typically two main uptick points in attendance.

“Around the start of the school year as people are sending their kids back to school,” she said. “It’s naturally time for individuals to start thinking about their education. Then again after the first of the year into January, February, we’ll see people [where] that’s the new year’s resolution, to move forward on their educational goals.”

Fairmont is the only location in Martin County that offers GED classes, and people who complete the courses have to travel to Albert Lea or Mankato to take the tests. Busiahn said Fairmont CER takes being this resource very seriously.

“That certainly is a privilege for us,” she said. “It fits into our mission. We are lifelong learning from birth to adult and beyond. It’s critical for our community and our county to be able to provide those resources. There’s a lot in people’s lives and sometimes education is not on the forefront. We are here to help fulfill those needs and get people on that path.”

There have been attempts in the past to bring GED testing to Fairmont. While that is still a goal, Busiahn said it is a work in progress.

“We hit some roadblocks early on,” she said. “We started to go down that path a couple of years ago, shortly after I came, trying to figure out what that might look like. It is something that we’d like to revisit, just to see what that might look like. It’s significant to be able to provide those resources.”

Help is on the way though. Busiahn said they have been in contact with local entities and other organizations to provide support via gas and test vouchers. She said not everything is in place yet, but students are being notified of potential relief.

The classes are free and can be taken any time they are available. Pre-registration is not required.

For more information, visit https://www.fairmont.k12.mn.us/o/cer or call 507-235-3141.