AT Northern Marianas Technical Institute’s presentation before members of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, July 2, NMTech staff announced that they will break ground on a new Koblerville campus next week.
According to NMTech’s marketing and outreach program director, Ben Babauta, the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new campus will take place on Friday, July 11, from 3 to 5 p.m. The campus will consist of five buildings and will be located adjacent to the Koblerville soccer pitch.
Babauta said although the new campus will be in Koblerville, NMTech will retain its Lower Base property, which will continue to be used for various school activities.
He also announced that fall enrollment is now open, with classes beginning August 4. In addition, NMTech is developing several new programs, including a drone piloting curriculum, OSHA certification programs, and a food protection program. This August, NMTech will also partner with the Guam Contractors Association to host its annual safety conference on Aug. 21-22.
Trends
NMTech data analyst Leo Master presented an overview of enrollment trends at the island’s only trade school.
According to his slide presentation, NMTech enrolled 89 students in 2021, with 66 completing trades certifications that year. In spring 2025 alone, 91 students enrolled, and 52 completed certifications. Master said he expects both figures to grow as fall enrollment continues and students prepare to complete their programs.
He noted that enrollment spiked in 2023, rising from 57 students in 2022 to 115, and growing further to 143 in 2024.
Master attributed this growth to enhanced outreach efforts. He also explained that the lower enrollment in 2022 reflected students gradually returning to the classroom after the Covid-19 pandemic.
“You’ll notice it spiked up in 2023 only because, during that time, our project marketing director was instrumental in getting the word out that we were finally open again,” Master said.
He also credited financial support from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for funding many of NMTech’s students.
To date, NMTech has enrolled 495 students since 2021 and awarded 330 trades certifications across 18 programs.
Master clarified that the data presented focused only on NMTech’s trades programs and did not include programs delivered through partnerships — such as the recently completed Governor’s Broadband Bootcamp, which aimed to train fiber optic technicians in the CNMI.
He said NMTech’s programs are aligned with the broader goal of supporting the CNMI’s workforce development.
“We try to enrich our workforce with technical skills and core fundamentals for tomorrow’s world — especially here in the CNMI,” Master said. “We are trying to equip our people with the skills that matter by offering training tailored to meet the real needs of local industries. By building strong career pathways and empowering individuals through hands-on development, we’re not just preparing our workforce — we’re strengthening our economy and shaping a future that’s competitive, capable, and resilient.”
From left Aaron Tomokane, Leo Master, and Ben Babauta on stage present about Northern Marianas Technical Institute during the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s general membership meeting on Wednesday, July 2.
NMTech’s enrollment data from 2021 to present.
