The popularity of the services the National Training Board(NTB) has risen according to a board member.

Michael Stowe, Secretary of the board, told : ?In 1998 we had 40 students in TVET(a tuition assistance programme), studying at six different colleges in eight different occupations. Today we have 311 students in 78 colleges studying 82 different occupations.

?In 2001 we had five students studying at New England Tech (NEIT), today we have 35.?

The NTB offers a joint scholarship with NEIT.

?NTB provides $10,000 and NEIT gives $5,000 ? a total of $15,000 covering a $25,000 tuition,? said Mr. Stowe.

To date the joint scholarship has contributed $525,000 to help students fund their academic careers.

Mr. Stowe said: ?If students are funded by us and they drop out of school they must pay all the money back.

The NTB is mandated under the National Training Board Act ?to take such measures as it considers necessary for ensuring an adequate supply of trained manpower in all branches of economic activity in Bermuda and to take such measures as it considers necessary for improving the quality and efficiency of training apprentices and trainees.?

In 2002 three students were studying at Compu College in Halifax, Nova Scotia with the help of NTB, today more than 30 are there, he said.

The amount of programmes available at NTB have increased, including a wide variety of career choices.

The Computer Society of Bermuda ICDL Programme is the most popular with 825 participants, according to a press release.

Masonry, welding, carpet cleaning, cable television technician, customer care, and horticultural are among the many programmes available to future students.

?In 2002 NTB had six programmes available, and today we have 39. And prior to 2002 we had no university based students, today we have 13.?

The NTB has been in operation for seven years with approximately 1,604 participants.

There are three categories for students that NTB trains: student, trainee, and apprentice.

To be accepted in the apprenticeship programme a prospective student must already have a job, said Mr. Stowe.

He said of locals career drive: ?More and more Bermudians are career conscience opposed to just looking for a job. They are more aware of quality based training.

?Some of the highest paid trainees in Bermuda are NTB people and apprentices.?

Another programme is Tech Quest 2000 which identifies those that have completed an apprenticeship, first-level studies, and are interested in advanced technology, technology management, and technology education career studies at the university level.

Currently, nine students are enrolled. The ACE Foundation has donated $45,000 to the project, said Mr. Stowe.

In this years Budget the NTB received $2,102,215.00 - the same amount as last years budget.