Under his proposal, Obama will ask Congress for $80 million to support new Department of Education grants for colleges that provide innovative teacher-training programs. The president also is set to announce a $22 million commitment from private companies that will support the effort, according to White House officials.

The investment is intended to address a problem that the president thinks could ultimately threaten the nation’s global competitiveness. U.S. companies have called on the government to help produce more highly skilled workers to keep pace with job openings in new high-tech industries.

“Growing industries in science and technology have twice as many openings as we have workers who can do the job,” Obama said during his State of the Union address Jan. 24. “Think about that: openings at a time when millions of Americans are looking for work. It’s inexcusable.”

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