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NMTI refutes reports of impending demise
Officials of the Northern Marianas Trade Institute assured the public yesterday that reports of its demise are untrue, vowing to continue the career school’s operations despite the financial challenges it is facing.
“It’s getting better.the school is not going to die,” NMTI owner Pellegrino told Saipan Tribune during Wednesday’s meeting of Saipan Chamber of Commerce where he announced that the school will consolidate its course offerings beginning this year.
Pellegrino is referring to the institute’s construction courses where classes for plumbing, carpentry, electrical, mason, and others are being held separately.
He said NMTI is consolidating many of these courses at the recommendation of the Guam Constructor Association, which the institute has a relationship with.
Pellegrino said this new approach would help students decide which specialty they really want to pursue.
“We will combine the courses [construction area] because there are students, after three to five months in the course, they change their mind and are not anymore interested to become a farmer, for example,” explained Pellegrino.
A new course, captain boat licensing, may also be offered pending an agreement with a qualified instructor, he added.
School director Vic Cepeda confirmed yesterday that beginning October the institute will consolidate these courses into one, which will serve as core courses to be taught within eight months.
The schedule for other course offerings will, however, remain the same, he said.
He echoed Pellegrino’s statement that the institute is here to stay to train and develop the local workforce.
Cepeda said that the institute needs about $500,000 each semester to effectively enforce and implement all the hands-on sessions they want to offer to students. Financial difficulties have, however, hampered them from reaching this goal.
According to Cepeda, the institute received financial help from both local and federal agencies in the past. He hopes that financial support such as educational tax credit, grants, and donations will continue to be directed to the institute.
This summer, the institute has 80 students who will be conferred their certificates by the end of the month in a special ceremony, Cepeda said.
He targets the start of new classes on Oct. 1.
According to Pellegrino, the institute’s goal is to fill each class with 10 to 12 students but he is unsure if they will be able to achieve this enrollment target.
When asked how many classes and courses will be offered this new semester, he said everything will depend on the enrollment number.
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
