The National Apprenticeship Board (NAB), predecessor to the present National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) was established in 1971 by an Act of Parliament. It was renamed as NAITA and functions within the purview of the Ministry of Youth Affairs. NAITA conducts island wide training programmes aimed at small, medium and large scale enterprises, under the advise and direction of a board of management appointed by the Hon. Minister of Youth Affairs.