Trade institute welcomed over 200 students in 2011

Northern Marianas Trade Institute welcomed over 200 enrollees in 2011, a figure that the institution considers a success despite experiencing a 35-percent increase in students dropping out.

Institute staff disclosed yesterday that the increased enrollments were mainly in the electrical, automotive, carpentry, culinary arts, and plumbing programs.

According to Victorino Cepeda, NMTI education director, they are seeing a couple of students drop out of classes each month, mainly due to lack of transportation in going to and from school.

Despite the school’s efforts to assist and motivate these students, Cepeda said the lack of resources to extend more help hampers them.

Cepeda, however, expects more students to enroll in 2012 as NMTI is now laying out its plans for the new year.

From two classes weekly, the institute will stretch this to five times a week sessions starting January, according to NMTI employees. This will be discussed in the upcoming open house on Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 5:30pm, during which more instructors will be introduced to enrollees.

As of yesterday, the school has 106 students, in addition to over 60 potential enrollees who will start classes next month. Unlike colleges and universities, NMTI operates using program modules and not by semester and academic terms.

NMTI said the additional classes are aimed to shorten the modules and programs of students-from approximately three years to less than two years. Due to lack of operational funds to build more classrooms, NMTI right now offers limited classes.

Cepeda admitted that their efforts to seek funding support from the Legislature-through a bill that proposes to give the trade institute 25 percent of SHEFA’s budget-have failed.

For now, he said NMTI is surviving because of the $200,000 grant award that was obtained with the help of Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan and some grant assistance from the Department of Commerce.

He disclosed that the institution has 10 employees and intends to add eight more personnel in anticipation of more classes next month.

He said the institute’s owner, Anthony Pellegrino, is still very much committed to continue the school’s operation despite funding challenges.

The institution’s mission is to train local citizens in various fields of interest.

Cepeda pointed out that, upon graduation, students are assisted in finding jobs or in forming their own company. By doing this they will be become an asset to the community.

NMTI is a private, non-profit, non-government, incorporated institute, organized in April 2008. The institution and its instructors have been certified by the National Center for Construction, Education and Research.