By DON DARE
6 On Your Side Consumer Investigator
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Every county in Tennessee offers GED classes that don't cost anything. But a Knoxville man says he took his classes online, spent hundreds of dollars and now regrets it.
For some working adults who have kids and a busy schedule, it's not easy to find time to take courses that would prepare them for their GED test.
That's why you see a lot advertisements for online GED courses. But one thing you can't do is take your GED test online.
For nearly 10 months, Keith Turner sat at his computer every night believing the online GED courses he was taking from Stratford Career Institute would help him get ahead in life.
"I took English, high school math and American government," Keith said.
He and his wife, Lakeeva, were proud of his hard work and accomplishment when he received a diploma in early June, after completing his courses and test.
"He was working very hard. He would go to work, then come home and get on the computer," Lakeeva said.
"I did pretty good," Keith said. After passing his GED courses with Stratford, he got a letter from the institute showing he received an 84 as an overall grade.
With diploma in hand, he went to Virginia College in Knoxville last month and took steps to enroll in computer repair classes.
"At the end of everything, the instructor said we have a problem. We can't accept your GED," Keith said.
They said the problem is his diploma. "The GED is a false GED," Keith said.
He says at Virginia College, he was shown an official report from the federal government about the Department of Education's Diploma Mill Blacklist.
When Keith called Stratford, they said, "They were a non-credited school, that in order for me to enroll in Virginia College, I would have to take the test over again."
"He worked very hard for this," Lakeeva said. "It's just a shame that it's useless."
In Knoxville, 6 On Your Side spoke with Nancy Dean, the chief GED examiner. "The only place you can take a GED test in the country are designated GED centers. Otherwise it is a paper and pencil test at the centers in the state of Tennessee," she said.
Keith took his GED classes at home online because it gave him more flexibility. But when you go online and check complaints about Stratford Career Institute, some describe the school as a scam and a sham.
Keith paid nearly $600 for his courses with Stratford.
"Every county has a GED program through their adult education," Dean said. "It is free, provided by the state of Tennessee through federal money."
Keith plans on taking a practice test at the GED center. If he passes, then he'll take his real GED test there.
"I think Stratford should be held accountable," Lakeeva said. "They should have to tell people up front, this is not an accredited school. Don't take my money."
6 On Your Side called Stratford Career Institute Wednesday, but they declined comment.
To find out information about GED programs, contact the school board in your county.
If you have a consumer issue, call the 6 On Your Side Hotline at 865-633-5974 or email ddare@wate.com.
"He was working very hard. He would go to work, then come home and get on the computer," Lakeeva Turner said.
"He worked very hard for this," Lakeeva said. "It's just a shame that it's useless."
