The electrical wiring industry could pull the plug on a course it sponsors at Bermuda College amid claims that the college has dragged its heels over completion of a vital training lab.

The National Training Board (NTB) — which co-sponsors the course with industry partners — is investigating claims that the lab is not up to scratch and said yesterday it believed them to be true.

The probe will shine a light on the quality of technical education on offer at the college and follows repeated claims from some critics — including Shadow Education Minister Grant Gibbons — that it is failing badly in that area.

Michael Stowe, executive officer at the NTB, told The Royal Gazette: "We are aware of certain difficulties regarding the programme and the matter is under review. We hope to have it resolved and sorted promptly."

He said students on the course were required to spend a certain amount of time in the lab and that industry members had raised concerns about whether this was happening. "That needs our immediate attention," he said.

He added: "The industry drives the technical skills agenda in Bermuda. The National Training Board sets it as advised by industry. We essentially pay the tuition bill for apprentices up there. We basically have to ensure that industry is satisfied and that all training is provided to the required standard."

The problems could mean the apprentices currently on the course cannot get national certification — a new standard recently brought in by the NTB.

One source told this newspaper that the lab's inadequacy could also mean that qualifications given to electrical wiring students at the college over the last three years were not valid.

"Questions could and should be raised on whether these students have been short changed and, further, do they present a risk to themselves and others working without the necessary lab time," said the source.

A second source said: "There have been three classes that have graduated since 2004 that have not had the practical experience that they should have had."

The first source claimed that the college had known about industry dissatisfaction with the training facilities since 2004 — but had failed to act.

"The lab was built and furnished in 2006 but still does not have all of the required equipment for all lab work to be completed," they said. "Students were graduated without lab time before this was even constructed. This is very dangerous.

"How long should both the NTB and industry wait for the college to build a course-required lab after graduating three years of students?"

The second source said some apprentices would be able to get their practical training on the job once employed — but those working for themselves or only in residential properties might not get that exposure.

"Up to a year ago the facilities were inadequate to meet the practical requirements of the programme," they said. "I have not been up there recently."

In May this year, The Royal Gazette asked the college about the lab and was told by college spokeswoman Evelyn James Barnett: "There's not much of a story to tell re: the electrical wiring query. The unit was completed last summer and students have been in it ever since."

She said yesterday that the college preferred not to comment at this stage. It is understood that an industry representative will inspect the premises tomorrow.

Mr. Stowe said: "We acknowledge the point that industry has made. We just have to make a determination as to what is the extent of the deficiency."

He said the industry-led occupational advisory committee would make a recommendation to the NTB once his investigation was complete and the board would then make a decision. Labour Minister Derrick Burgess will be informed. Last November's throne speech highlighted the need for improved technical education. Dr. Brown said at the time he wanted to see improvements at the senior school level.

The latest problem at the college comes almost a year after it hosted a major public meeting to plan a way forward for technical education. Randy Horton, Education Minister, told the meeting he was dissatisfied with what was on offer and pledged significant improvements.