Call for NYS Training for University Students, Lowering Entry Point
Residents of Narok County in Kenya are proposing that students who are set to join local universities should undergo National Youth Service (NYS) training in order to instill discipline and patriotism in them before they start their higher education.
The proposal was made during a meeting of the NYS reforms task force held at the Narok North Youth Empowerment Hall. Speakers at the meeting recommended the reintroduction of mandatory NYS enlistment for young people to help them mature emotionally, psychologically, socially, and physically before they resume their studies.
According to Narok Principal Chief Moses Dapash, indiscipline cases in tertiary institutions are rampant and can be curbed if students undergo NYS training.
“In the 1990’s, the students would pass through NYS colleges for training before they joined universities. This made the students resilient in the many challenges they face in their education hence produced high quality graduates,” he said.
Therefore, he proposed the establishment of NYS colleges in all regions of the country to avoid congestion in the few existing institutions.
The Narok Boda Boda Chairman, Lemayian Punyua, also recommended the construction of an NYS training center in Narok County, citing the expansive land and high levels of illiteracy. He believed that the presence of NYS training institutions in every region would create job opportunities for many young people and more youths would benefit from the training.
Narok Peace Chairman Joseph Kileu emphasized the need for NYS graduates to be absorbed into the job market after successfully completing the training, so that they have the opportunity to contribute to nation-building. He pointed out that many NYS graduates end up engaging in criminal activities such as drug abuse and theft due to frustrations after the six months of training.
Narok Persons with Disability Chairman Paul Ole Sopia requested the government to admit physically challenged individuals to NYS training institutions, as they too have unique talents to contribute.
He also recommended lowering the entry point to NYS colleges from a D plain to E, so as to accommodate all youths who did not have the opportunity to complete their schooling.
The task force, which was led by former Interior Secretary Moffat Kangi and Elizabeth Mueni, promised to present the views of the people in their final recommendations. In March of this year, President Dr. William Ruto extended the term of the Police Reforms task force by two months to include NYS.
The task force is mandated to identify constraints on effective service delivery by the National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service, and to review and recommend improvements to the terms and conditions of service.
The task force is led by former Chief Justice David Maraga, along with other members including John Ole Moyaki, Ibrahim Guyo, Richard Kirundi, and Rosaline Odede.
Call for NYS Training for University Students
