(NMTI) — The Northern Marianas Trades Institute is celebrating its much anticipated return to offering trades courses in the CNMI.
Two students resume their welding lessons at the Northern Marianas Trades Institute.
NMTI photo
The school closed its doors to students back in April 2020 as a direct result of the increased spread of Covid-19 throughout the globe. The 103 students directly affected by the closure are now slowly finding their footing as they resume the rest of their studies which officially started Jan. 4, 2021.
The trade school’s reopening prior to its full transition as the Northern Marianas Technical Institute is needed as it remains an open financial obligation on our books and such debts cannot be transferred over to the new entity, said Agnes McPhetres, NMTI chief executive officer.
“The private sector has been and continues to be our biggest catalyst as they have not only helped in the overall creation of the programs we offer, but they have actively engaged the process by offering their professional staff at times as instructors; for this we are truly grateful,” she added.
Dante Yumul, director of instruction said, “As we continue to strive for growth, we see the continued need to partner with the private sector as students need the hands-on experience in order to be successful at their career endeavors.”
NMTI hopes that the increased number of registrants due to the soft re-opening will stir more interest in revisiting the trade school’s need for sustained funding.
“It is our hope that our funding stream will once again be re-opened so that we may serve a greater number of residents,” Yumul said. “Only we residents can navigate our islands on the right course and I feel our team here at NMTI is equipped to do just that. We are grateful to those that have supported us and thank them for their continued patronage as we once again open our doors to our constituents.”
