Why a trades school is needed

On July 15, 2008, the Northern Marianas Trades Institute held its first session. Its three small classrooms were filled to capacity with young apprehensive students, both male and female, eager to learn a trade. The three newly certified instructors handed out textbooks and explained the purpose of the school and the curriculum. The first course was an introduction to electricity, carpentry and plumbing. Thus began a silent revolution to invest in our “human capital.” Walk with me as we discuss its growth and importance to our community.

Now three months later the same students are highly motivated and still studying hard two nights a week. They have come to realize what the future can hold for them after they master a skilled trade. They will never have to work for the minimum wage again or beg for a job.

Upon completion of the basic course at the end of this month, they will begin a practical hands-on work in their chosen field—electricity, plumbing, and carpentry. They will continue until they become proficient enough to hold a job in their field.

They are being trained to become skilled employees that will be able to hold down high-paying jobs in large construction companies. They are also being trained to become self-employed operating their own small businesses. All they will need is a pickup truck, hand tools and strong knuckles to knock on doors offering their skill. In this manner they will be able to charge whatever the market will bear as is done in the rest of America.

The response since July has been overwhelming. Many parents are asking how and when their son or daughter can enter and begin mastering a trade. In response the Saipan House Delegation has appropriated $100,000.00 to foster the development of the institute. Duty Free Shops has donated $3,000 while several individuals donated $500 each. In addition, the NAP program is donating $15,000 also to help train some of their food stamp recipients. The Workforce Investment Agency is paying the tuition of several students.

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club have offered assistance in the form of scholarships. A special thank you to all.

The Northern Marianas Trades Institute is a non-profit and non-governmental institute. The trades institute is hoping that more donors will respond. Funds are badly needed to support these courses. We never anticipated the response we are getting for various training courses.

To date the institute has mainly been funded by its president. But your immediate support is badly needed. Please call me at 287-8310 and I will gladly explain in more detail what we are doing and how your assistance will be used. Please sponsor a needy student for his tuition. You are welcome to visit the warehouse classrooms and see what we are doing any time.

It is our basic philosophy to train our people in skilled trades. With a strong workforce we can create an economy that will have a strong middle class. We must wean ourselves away from guest workers. We have the necessary manpower but it is not being utilized now. Our people are eager to learn and to work as their fathers and mothers did before them. But for some reason we have not motivated them. If anything we have destroyed their desire to work. Instead we prefer to speak derogatory remarks, calling them lazy and worthless as employees.

At the institute we are building morale and self-confidence while teaching life-long skills. I always tell people: “Don’t accept my comments. But visit the school and speak to the students to hear their comments. That is the real merit of what the institute is all about—the results the students feel they are achieving.”

As mentioned earlier, the institute is growing. One of the exciting things that has happened recently is that it has just leased a 35,000 square foot lot with a 25,000 almost new warehouse in Lower Base. Here we are constructing actual hands-on classes where the students will be able to handle tools and build things. The warehouse will be ready for use by November. Under the supervision of certified instructors the students will also be able to reach out into the community to do simple maintenance jobs, thereby adding to their experience.

Beginning in November, the following courses are expected to be offered based on the demand. The current students will advance to hands-on learning in the new warehouse to further their skills in electricity, carpentry and plumbing. In addition introductory courses will be given which will include:

A.electricity, B.carpentry, C.plumbing, D.painting, E. masonry, F. refrigeration/air/conditioning, and G. electronics.

A special culinary (cooking) course will also be offered. This is intended to teach people to work in hotel kitchens and restaurants. Later in the month a sewing class and a cosmetology class will also be started depending upon demand and funding.

All the courses are open to all local residents regardless of age, educational level and gender. All that is required is a desire to learn a trade. However there is a charge for instruction and book fee. Classes are held two nights a week from 6pm to 8:30pm. Please call 235-6684 to pick up a registration form.

Currently we have nine instructors who specialize in various fields, but we are looking for more. If you have a special skill and would like to teach it to others, please call George Sablan, the former mayor, at 235-6684 or 285-7410 and discuss how we can cooperate. The more we cooperate and teach our people skills, the faster we will become a proud and industrious nation again.

The Northern Marianas Trades Institute is closely affiliated with the Guam Contractors Association Trades Academy who has been successfully operating their academy for over two years. They and the Northern Marianas Trades Institute are both members of a larger organization called the National Center for Construction and Education Research and the University of Florida Construction School. When the student completes his course he will receive a certificate of completion from the NCCER that will be recognized by contractors all over the United States and Guam. In fact this Wednesday I have been invited to speak before the Guam Contractors Association to discuss the institute.

There is much more we could talk about the institute and its goals, but I invite you to call George or me and visit our facilities to see for yourself what we are attempting. Unless we take the initiative to help ourselves, we will never become prosperous again. Yes, outside investors will help but it is us—the people—that must be the backbone of any real and sustainable growth.

Become a supporter of the Northern Marianas Trades Institute and learn a life skill. Recommend someone who you feel will benefit by attending our courses. Please donate to help our people learn skills for a lifetime. We need all the support you can offer. This is a community project!

A Chinese proverb states: “When the wind changes direction, there are those who build walls and those that build windmills.” Among us there are those that still insist on building walls against the wind. But many of us understand that by building windmills we will become productive and prosperous. Are you a wall builder or a windmill builder? Change is upon us and we must adapt to it or perish. Become involved!