CNMI sets up vocational programs

Heeding a recommendation from economic experts, the CNMI government is laying down the ground work for major changes in vocational programs aimed at helping local students develop skills that will make them competitive for private sector employment.

The Public School System and the Northern Marianas College are carrying out fundamental changes in educational and vocational programs that will not only prepare students to take private sector jobs but will also shift their concept on guest worker-held jobs.

A report from Capitol Hill disclosed that efforts are now underway for PSS and NMC to institute educational and vocational programs that would focus on changing attitudes of students toward private sector employment to lure them away from government jobs.

At the same time, the government is also looking at developing apprenticeship programs in partnership with the business community, as well as the Certificate of Initial Mastery program.

Educators will develop a special curriculum for the Certificate of Initial Mastery program. The curriculum will be based on the job requirements of private sector businesses.

Skills required by the business community will also be the basis in developing a training program under the Certificate of Initial Mastery, as part of government efforts to minimize local workers’ heavy reliance on public sector jobs.

According to the Quarterly Economic Review released by the Department of Commerce for the first three months of the year, over 3,900 US-born workers in the CNMI are working for the government, while 4,618 work for the private sector.

Workers of Chamorro and Carolinian descent were concentrated in public administration (34.9 percent and 28.1 percent, respectively) professional and related services (22 percent and 24.6 percent) and retail trade industries (11.6 percent and 12.4 percent).

Economic experts have recommended major changes in the existing school curricula in order to eventually halt criticisms hurled by the federal government against the Northern Marianas’ heavy dependence on foreign workers.

Experts said the new curricula must be focused at building up local force to gradually replace guest workers, thereby, reducing the islands’ reliance on foreign labor.

Changes in the educational thrust should also be looked at seriously to prepare local residents, especially the youth, for the proposed shift in business activities considering the Commonwealth’s plan to diversify the local economy.

Economic experts who have conducted a research on the existing curricula offered in both public high schools and the Northern Marianas College (NMC) recommend the setting up of a program that focuses more directly to career preparedness.

At present, school subjects tend to dwell more on the liberal arts format.

If the Commonwealth is determined at expanding its economic base, basic skill development initiatives should be among the top priorities in educational programs.

Regardless of the ultimate level of educational attainment or career placement, basic skill development initiatives would simultaneously prepare a greater proportion of students for trade occupations and instill greater private sector orientation among young people, according to government studies.