THE NATIONAL Youth Service (NYS) says it is uncertain about whether its summer employment programme for this year will actually take place as Government is yet to okay the $50 million budget submitted by agency.
"We thought the Ministry of Finance had signed off on the programme, (but) we have not (yet) been given a budget," explains NYS Executive Director, Rev. Adinhair Jones.
Last year, the NYS received 12,000 applications, out of which 4,500 students were placed, costing over $35 million.
This year the agency has received more than 9000 applications for jobs before the June 18 deadline.
The NYS proposal this year sought $50 million to hire 6000 students, the first batch of which should begin working in primary schools across the island on July 5. No word has been given, however, as to whether the $50 million or a smaller figure will be granted.
"The financial constraint in Government is the principal problem and we are now trying to determine, working with different scenarios, how to maintain the programme at least at the level of last year", said Jones.
Despite the uncertainty, islandwide interviews for the programme commenced in earnest last Tuesday, the NYS reports.
The summer employment programme started originally out of the Office of the Prime Minister in 2001, mainly to provide job experience and well needed back-to-school funds for students in fourth, fifth and sixth forms and to help clear up a work backlog in Government offices. Tertiary students have subsequently been added.
