LaTonya Linton, Gleaner Writer
DR. DONALD Rhodd, Minister of State for Education, Youth and Culture, has announced that the National Youth Service (NYS) programme will be expanded.
In his contribution to the 2005/06 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Dr. Rhodd said the expansion of the NYS would present an opportunity for investment in facilities in central and western Jamaica to hold approximately 15,000 young people. The current capacity for residential training is approximately 10,000 youth annually.
"We intend to facilitate a national debate on the expansion on the National Youth Service with similar features of the original programme, particularly the aspect of related work experience over a long period of time," said Dr. Rhodd.
He disclosed that the NYS website would be utilised in the coming financial year as a data base of prospective employees (principally NYS past participants), which potential employers would be able to access in seeking entry level personnel for their organisation.
REINTRODUCTION
Since the reintroduction of the National Youth Service, the programme has placed more than 12,000 youth in organisations within the private and public sectors.
The NYS programme was introduced by the late Michael Manley, former prime minister of Jamaica, in the 1970s. All secondary school leavers were admitted and were placed in the private or public sectors for two years.
