Senate pushes for return of NYS training

Senators want the return of the mandatory National Youth Service training for Form Four graduates.

On Thursday, the lawmakers argued that school-leavers needed to be equipped with further training and also kept busy at the National Youth Service before proceeding for further education.

But the House asked the government to first ensure the NYS centres had improved services and were modernised.

Nominated Senator Beatrice Elachi (APK), in supporting the motion, called for establishment of NYS outlets in all counties to enable the youth who had completed secondary education to acquire necessary skills.

Moral decadence

Ms Elachi, the Majority Whip, argued that unemployment was a major cause of insecurity and moral decadence, and that mostly affected the youth, yet they remained the backbone of the economy.

“Many of them have become disillusioned and hopeless. Helping them get jobs would contribute towards attainment of economic and social rights,” Ms Elachi said.

The Senator proposed in the motion addressed to the department of Devolution and Planning that the NYS takes in youth who have completed secondary school and who may wish to enrol for courses offered there.

Further, Senator Elachi suggested that graduates from the service be given first priority whenever the government was recruiting in areas where they are qualified to serve.

The debate continues.