PHILIPSBURG--The new board of the National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) has begun efforts to adapt its statutes to, amongst other things, enhance communication from the board to stakeholders and to prevent a recurrence of the issues that plagued the former board.

 

Education Minister Silveria Jacobs told Members of Parliament (MPs) during a meeting of the Central Committee on the institute on Thursday, that the changes to the statues had been submitted to a notary and should be finalised by the end of May.

 

Jacobs as well as the former Education Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs had encountered challenges communicating with the former board. Jacobs told MPs that the various stakeholders who had appointed board members had also reported challenges in communicating with their representatives.

 

Jacobs reported that the communication has improved with the new board and strides are already being made at the institute. She said the new board has already taken stock of the challenges facing the institute and in the coming months they will be outlining their plans to address the issues.

 

An interim director was appointed at NIPA effective April 1, for five months. The former interim director had resigned earlier this month and is currently on vacation she had been due, until her resignation takes effect. The interim director has been tasked with restructuring and streamlining the existing programmes to ensure that the current students can graduate in a timely manner and execute the preparatory work to start up the new school year.

 

An interim executive director was also appointed effective April 18, for six months.

 

The services of the interim executive director will be focused mainly in the area of policy and operational procedure development and implementation, strategic and organisational planning and development, human resource development and public relations counsel and support to the Board of the NIPA.

 

A recruitment drive has started to recruit a new director and human resource officer.

 

On the issue of finances, the minister said subsidy payments have resumed to the Advanced Vocational Education (AVE) board, which runs NIPA and the board is now able to meet its financial obligations.

 

Regarding litigation against NIPA, the judgement in the case of the former director Vernon Richards is a potential liability, however, negotiations are ongoing to resolve this matter amicably and out of court, the minister said.

 

Additionally, the liens placed on NIPA’s accounts have been lifted and staffers have received all payments due to them. Their March salaries were paid out on time. The April, payment will be made available on April 25, via new process and procedure in place to pay the salaries via the bank.

 

A total of 206 students are currently enrolled in the various programmes that NIPA offers, however, the minister said the institute is still underutilised. A total of 32 staffers are working at NIPA on contract. Seven of NIPA’s programmes have been accredited and six are in the final phases of accreditation.

 

Plans are currently being worked on to expand the current package of programmes being offered to include more level three and four programmes as of September 2016.

 

Under consideration are Small Engine Repair level 1 (a 1 year programme); Teacher Assistant level 4 (4 year programme); Hospitality Management level 4 (4 year programme); Culinary Arts Level 4 (4 year programme), Electrical Engineering and Carpentry in collaboration with Milton Peters College (MPC).

 

NIPA is also busy pursuing strategic partnerships with St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI), St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA), Utilities Company GEBE and St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). It is also the intention to work closely with the existing school boards to share expertise, human resources and facilities, etc.

 

Jacobs said the Ministry of Education together with the AVE board are working together to ensure quality education at NIPA and to further ensure that NIPA is able to serve the advanced technical vocational educational and training needs of St. Maarten in the interest of students, parents, employers and government.

 

The Daily Herald