Government Enforces Compulsory NYS Training for University & Jobs
If President William Ruto’s administration adopts the recommendations of the Presidential Working Party on Educational Reforms, the government may shortly reintroduce mandatory community service training similar to the National Youth Service (NYS) program of the 1980s.
In a report released on Tuesday, August 1st, a team led by Professor Raphael Munavu proposed that all high school (secondary school) graduates must complete three months of community service training.
Therefore, upon graduation from university, all Kenyans will be required to complete nine months of similar training before entering the employment market.
The report stated, “Therefore, it is necessary to reintroduce Community Service Learning programs for students upon graduation to promote peaceful coexistence and cultivate in our youth a sense of patriotism, appreciation for diverse cultures, and work ethic.”
Community service education will be a prerequisite for entering college and the employment market.
“A certificate of completion of community service should be issued as evidence before admission into the workforce,” the report stated in part.
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The committee was charged with developing a plan for Kenya’s education system, including the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), whose implementation has encountered obstacles.
The report’s recommendation emphasizes the importance of community service in preparing students for future responsibilities and the employment market.
The report notes that community service learning encourages students to develop a sense of civic responsibility to support and strengthen their communities.
The Ministry of Education is responsible for developing a policy, even though the report does not specify when community learning will begin if it is adopted.
The report recommended that the Ministry of Education develop and implement a policy mandating Community Service Learning Programmes for all students upon completion of Senior School, TVET, and University education.
To enhance cross-cultural interaction and national cohesion, the programs will be implemented in two phases, with the first three months taking place in one’s native county after completing secondary school, and the remainder in a different county after completing TVET/university education.
Government Enforces Compulsory NYS Training for University & Jobs
