The enrollment rate in culinary schools across the country apparently declined and some of these institutions are already closing their doors. Among the schools who have chosen to stay relevant and in demand are the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont, which graduated celebrity chef Alton Brown, and the Culinary Institute of Charleston, South Carolina, ABC News reported.
Michael Carmel, head of culinary arts in Charleston said that they are still looking for ways and will constantly look for new ways in order to let the school grow. He added that it is not just about the numbers or increasing the number of enrollees; it is also about the quality of education they provide, which will also provide their students more opportunities.
Carmel, and others, said that there are varied reasons behind the challenges that the industry is currently facing, it includes tuition, because it can be rather expensive nowadays, according to The Press. This will only lead graduates with high debt loan to settle for low-paying restaurant jobs.
While there are a lot of restaurant positions that can provide real-life experience for those who would like to consider getting into business without accruing debt, Carmel said that students still prefer having a regular schedule and benefits, as well as still be able to enjoy the quality of their lives.
Schools like the New England Culinary Institute handle challenges pertaining to enrollment rate decrease by taking some steps such as cutting down on expenses where it is possible, in order to attract more students. He also tried to reach out to high schools to offer college-credit programs and hoped that it will make the enrollment decline more controllable. He believes that these steps will somehow level out the enrollment in the next few years.
