The Northeast Learning Center is a high school equivalency diploma preparation program and testing center that caters to everyone, including Spanish speakers.
Benny Faulkner teaches the class, which meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at 7222 Castor Ave. (at Wellington Street).
The class meets for eight weeks, or a total of 48 hours. The cost is $250.
“Eighty percent of my students pass the test,” said Faulkner, a native of the Dominican Republic.
Last week, Faulkner took a few minutes away from a class to meet with some recent graduates who were all born outside the United States: Marilyn Grullon (Dominican Republic), Karen Lopez Suazo (Honduras) and Nancy Jara and Sergio Morocho (both of Ecuador).
“Getting a diploma opens doors to a better future and better job,” Suazo said through Faulkner’s interpretation.
Faulkner also interpreted for Morocho, who plans to pursue technical education.
“It’s a good opportunity to have a better future and a chance to get a better job,” Morocho said.
For more information, call 215-745-0141 or visit northeastgedcenter.com.
“I’d like to encourage the American community to push the Latin community to get an education to open up the door to go to college, get training, establish a business and get a better job,” Faulkner said. ••