Workers' Education Program

The Workers’ Education Program (WEP) provides Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes including:

GED | HiSET (high school equivalency)
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
ESOL for Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)

We are funded by the Adult and Community Learning Services division of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Mission

To provide each and every adult with opportunities to develop literacy skills needed to qualify for further education, job training, and better employment, and to reach his/her full potential as a family member, productive worker, and citizen.

History

The WEP was created and is supported by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Labor Education Center. The program began in 1986, bringing English classes to immigrant, union, needle trades workers in their factories and has grown steadily since. Our classes have included Citizenship, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), General Educational Development (GED), and High School Equivalency Test (HiSET). Over the years, the WEP has offered classes in factories, union halls, and community centers in the New Bedford and Fall River areas.