National service persons have been urged to not see postings to rural areas as punishment but rather as an opportunity to gain experience.
Executive Director National Service Scheme (NSS), Mustapha Ussif said the one year programme is to prepare the personnel for the larger life ahead and the responsibilities beyond the academic institutions.
The National Service Scheme (NSS) has deployed 85,708 prospective service persons to user agencies across the country.
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Out of the number, 75,855, representing 88.25 per cent, have been posted to public institutions whereas 10,072, constituting 11.75 per cent, were deployed to private user agencies.
Additionally, 5000 service persons have been deployed to support the implementation of the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme, while 500 others have also been posted to the newly introduced entrepreneurship and innovation model.
But speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Friday, Mustapha Ussif bemoaned how most of the service personnel reject postings to rural areas.
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He noted that, over the years the National Service Personnel have had great influence on the communities in which they served and as such had become agents of change in those areas thus becomes alarming when others fail to serve there.
The NSS boss explained that posting personnel to different parts of the country, the NSS was exposing them to the diversity of culture as well as to learn to be tolerant of other peoples’ views and circumstances.
Mustapha Ussif also cited how service personnel in the rural area gain employment unlike those in the cities and towns.
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He added that, the institution of the NSS had helped the youth to travel to different parts of the country to offer critical services as well as appreciate the customs and culture of the people.
Mustapha Ussif called on parents to convince their children to accept posting to any part of the country in accordance with the government’s policies to strategically develop the country.