CNMI senior students prefer off-island schools

Senior students in the CNMI would rather take up college courses outside the Commonwealth and take them at U.S. colleges and universities.

According to the 2006 Senior Survey on CNMI High Schools, of the 538 senior students interviewed, 39 percent or 207 said that they would rather attend college outside the CNMI while 20 percent or 106 think of attending college at the Northern Marianas College on Saipan. Eighteen percent or 96 senior students said they would join the military.

NMC-Small Business Development Center director Eric Plinske presented the data during yesterday’s Workforce Development Summit held at the Hibiscus Hall of Fiesta Resort & Spa.

Plinske said the survey interviewed 68 percent or 538 seniors among 805 senior students from private and public schools in the CNMI. There were 12 schools included in the survey: Marianas High School, Saipan Southern High School, Kagman High School, Rota High School, Tinian High School, Marianas Baptist Academy, Grace Christian Academy, Mount Carmel School, Eucon International School, Calvary Christian Academy and Saipan International School.

When asked why majority of students prefer studying outside the CNMI, 31 percent or 163 of the respondents said “They want to leave the CNMI to experience a new environment” while 10.7 percent or 56 of them said they don’t consider NMC as a quality institution for college education; 9.7 percent or 51 of them said their parents want them to attend college elsewhere.

Majority of the respondents (183 or 35 percent) said they plan to complete a master’s degree in the future while 163 or 31 percent said they plan to complete a bachelor’s degree. Only 15 percent or 79 of the respondents said they would pursue a doctorate degree when possible. Twenty-six or 5 percent of senior students interviewed expressed that they would take vocational courses when they finish high school.

The survey also asked the respondents on what courses they plan to take up in college. Majority of them, 95 or 18.2 percent, said they would take up business courses, while 47 or 9 percent would take up healthcare courses, 46 or 8.8 percent would take up education, and 44 or 8.4 percent would take up engineering courses.

In line with their course preferences, 103 or 20.9 percent hope to get a career or work in the business field. Eighty-four or 17.1 percent said they want a career in the military.

Plinske said he is overwhelmed with the success of the first summit organized by NMC-SBDC. Over 79 government and business leaders attended the summit.

The summit, which is co-sponsored by the Workforce Investment Agency, aimed to offer an in-depth discussion of employment issues facing local residents as well as the public and private sectors.

The summit also sought to gather business and government leaders to discuss the CNMI’s employment needs, with the goal of developing the local workforce to fill positions that are currently occupied by guest workers.

Common suggestions from the groups on this topic were: continuous collaboration between PSS and NMC; career shadowing; better guidance counseling; more cooperative courses to prepare seniors in the workplace; internship; focus on tourism courses; and career counseling, among many others.

Each participant also voted on the top three unskilled and skilled job categories that badly need workers and their stance on raising the minimum wage. The top votes went to wait staff, front desk staff, and “yes” to raise the minimum wage.