While there’s been much discussion on the need to boost skills in trades that are now imported from off island, not much has materialized.
But some progress is slowly being made through a partnership between the Department of Commerce and the Department of Education with money being put into equipment, course material and tests for students of Nuuuli Vocational Technical High School.
This is part of a workforce initiative aimed at localizing some of the trade-type jobs which are now dominated by foreign workers.
StarKist official Taotasi Archie Soliai informed the inter Samoa Task Force last year that they cannot find engineers and other technical personnel on island and have had to hire from Samoa or Fiji.
The Planning Division of DOC and the Department of Education Workforce Initiative Nuuuli Vo Tech is being upgraded to be able to offer nationally certified trades education.
The Department of Commerce 1st Quarter Performance report says the main aim of the partnership and project is to align trades with commerce and private sector needs and create a pipeline for certified students.
Upon graduation Nuuuli Vo Tech students will have national occupational competency testing institute certification recognized internationally.
The DOC report says this effort targets students from low income households and at risk youths attending the trade high school to find jobs after graduation and support their families should they opt not to pursue higher education,
The Planning Division of DOC has formed a three year partnership with DOE and Nuuuli Vocational Training High School to provide support in prioritized trade areas of agriculture, automotive, building/construction and electronics.
