NSS to include military training – Ablakwa Friday 8th August , 2014 1:33 pm Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa A Deputy Minister for Education in- charge of tertiary, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that the National Service Act 426 is in the process of being reviewed to include compulsory military training for all service personnel. The Act, since its inception, has not been revised and has outdated clauses, hence the decision to review it. The Deputy Minister made this known at the 14th stakeholders’ conference of the National Service Scheme, which was held under the theme “Training Entrepreneurial and Employable Youth for National Development-The Role of the Ghana National Service Scheme and Stakeholders.” He disclosed that a committee has been set up to study the Act 426 because a careful look at the Act indicates some provisions which have not been followed to the letter for about 34 years. Mr. Ablakwa said per the National Service Act, the national service should be undertaken under a two-year period. It also states that there should be six months compulsory military training. He said he is highly convinced that it is time for a national discourse on the military training component spelt out in the National Service Act. “It is becoming increasingly imperative that we consider this compulsory military training. Even if it cannot be done within the two-year period as it had originally been envisaged by the 1980 Act, if it can be done within six months or three months of the one year, it will be helpful,” he explained. Mr. Ablakwa also suggested an entrepreneurial model be added to the programme to support graduates who undertake national service. He noted that most of the graduates have exceptional ideas which could be developed into businesses. “Some of them [service personnel] even start when they are in school, they get their companies registered, they have their ideas and they are ready to run with it,” he said. According to him, the existing practice where all graduates are posted to “somebody’s company,” stunts the growth of graduates with business ideas. Mr. Ablakwa mentioned that such persons need to be encouraged to pursue their dreams.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 19:41:44 +0000
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