Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has proposed extending the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program from its current one-year duration to two years.
This proposal aims to enhance the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program and better equip corps members with practical skills for job creation and national development.
Key Details:
- Reason for Extension: Dr. Alausa emphasized that a longer service period would provide corps members with more time to acquire substantial skills and experiences, enabling them to become job creators and meet the country’s needs.
- Focus Areas: The minister also advocated for deploying more graduate teachers to rural schools to address manpower shortages and improve education standards.
- NYSC’s Response: The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, expressed the scheme’s readiness to align with government policies and reforms. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to digitize the mobilization process and combat certificate fraud.
- Public Reaction: The proposal has sparked mixed reactions, with some supporting the initiative for its potential to boost youth employment, while others have raised concerns about the feasibility and implications of a two-year service period.
This development reflects the government’s commitment to addressing unemployment and fostering national development.
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