Efforts to prep West Texas students to work in oil and gas industry get statewide attention

Efforts led by energy companies to expand education programs that prepare West Texas students to work in the oil and gas industry are gaining statewide attention.

The Texas Tribune, based in Austin, recently published a profile of these efforts, in large part by highlighting the work of the Permian Strategic Partnership, an organization of 20 leading energy companies including Chevron, ConocoPhillipps and ExxonMobil. The partnership is funding and supporting expansion of this type of coursework at schools in West Texas and New Mexico.

The Tribune noted the ongoing efforts mark “one of the first modern attempts to prepare high school students to work in the fields before they graduate.”

“It’s part of a shift in public education to work closely with local business leaders to provide students with specific employable skills,” the newspaper states.

To read the full report, which also looks into the role of climate change in education, go here.