Education Minister Terry Lister yesterday reaffirmed his Government?s commitment to getting more Bermudians certified in technical fields and challenged tradespeople to improve their skills through its programmes.

Telling Rotarians ?one of the greatest challenges that we, as a community, face is to move from talking about the challenges and to actually do something to minimise them?, Mr. Lister also warned that for Bermuda?s economy to continue to flourish, our infrastructure must operate at a continuously improving standard in order to stay competitive.

This meant making the technical skills of Bermuda?s youth comparable with those of anywhere in the world.

He also lamented the loss of the Bermuda Technical Institute in 1972, calling it?s closure ?untimely ? and perhaps ? the most miscalculated decision in our history?.

?It has had significant social, economic and political implications to this day. For more than twenty-five years, apprenticeship and technical training in Bermuda were in a state of fragmentation.?

He said he has been having meeting with senior school PTA?s to discuss technical education, adding that senior students at CedarBridge Academy are taught carpentry, electronics and graphical communication.

CedarBridge has recently started a construction class with the National Centre for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core Programme, which is also taught at the Bermuda College and is thinking of starting classes in Construction Technology, Electronics and Electrical Installation at CedarBridge in September.

?Since 1998 nearly 1700 Bermudians have received technical training, funding assistance and career guidance. Access to technical education and training is available at Tech Hall at the Bermuda College, and at ninety-one technical colleges, institutes of technology and universities on the NTB list of approved schools.

?More than 360 recipients of the NTB Technical/Vocational Education and Training (TVET) tuition assistance awards are currently studying at the 91 colleges in 87 occupations. Additionally, thirty industry apprentices currently receive training in Alberta, Canada.

?As the Minister responsible for Education and Development, I am always pleased to share information about happenings in the world of education. I truly believe that our young people are achieving wonderful things,? Mr. Lister continued.

?Bermuda is almost a perfect example of a global economy. Our most important businesses trade with major international economic superpowers. Our guest workers come from all of the regions of the globe.

?Public and private sectors have had to shift and adjust to accommodate the needs of our businesses and the wishes of an increasingly sophisticated and demanding population.

?Although we are a global economy, our limited land area creates a special situation in Bermuda,? he added. ?We cannot continue to import large numbers of persons and must ensure that we provide the skills needed for this global economy from our own local population as much as possible.?

He thanked former NTB chair Nalton Brangman, current Chair Herman Tucker, members of the Board and to Mr. Michael Stowe and his staff: ?for their out-of-the-box thinking in developing training programmes that are responsive to the needs of the individual and the country?.

However, the Minster could not avoid the topic of the controversial National Occupational Act, where experienced tradesmen face fines of $10,000 for not getting nationally certified by NTB.

?The legislation provides the means for our workforce to perform at a higher level of proficiency, especially in occupations deemed to be essential.? ?We believe that certification will reduce the degree of risk or harm to a worker or other person because someone inappropriately used materials and methodology associated with the occupation,? he said.