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NMC’s Voc-Ed faculty down to one
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Posted on Feb 06 2006
From a pool of 16 instructors in 1991, Northern Marianas College’s Technical Trades and Vocational Education Program is now down to one full-time instructor.
The program’s staffing dilemma was disclosed in the college’s 2005 Annual Report, which stated that, “The program’s staffing level has shrunk over the past 15 years, from a high in 1991 of 16 faculty and staff serving dozens of students, to one full-time instructor, no staff, and four limited-term contract instructors in AY 2005.”
The report said the problem is a result of the Legislature’s continued cuts of available funds for the training program.
Consequently, the reduced funding also severed its course offerings in spite of NMC’s expertise and available equipment for the program.
The college currently only offers five technical trade skills courses, namely: basic carpentry, plumbing, electricity, masonry, drafting and blueprints, and auto services (offered only on Tinian and Rota).
“There is a demand from disadvantaged youth and adults to learn technical trades despite the low wages offered in the local economy,” said the report.
Other challenges faced by the program include the difficulty faced by prospective students when attending vocational courses while holding down a full-time job. The students also cannot afford NMC’s tuition and other fees without government subsidy.
