LOWNDES COUNTY — Beginning July 9, Lowndes County Jail and Valdosta Technical College will start a pilot GED/Adult Literacy program at the jail with the hopes of turning inmates into classmates.

The program involves inmates pursuing their General Education Degrees while gaining job skills to assist them in finding jobs after being released.

Lowndes County Commissioner Joyce Evans, who helped conceive the idea, said the need is obvious.

“So many times these young men and women make mistakes, serve their time and get out of jail with nothing to do because they can’t get jobs,” Evans said. “If they have nothing to do, then they will wind up back in jail.”

She said the objective is to get young people in this situation “off the jail books and onto the tax rolls,” especially because there are jobs in the area with no one to fill them.

Furthermore she cited the results of a study conducted by Valdosta Technical College in February which further reflected the need for the program. Of 328 surveys completed, 58 percent, or 189, did not have their GED, and 52 percent, or 170, were interested in participating in the program.