The Federal Government has refuted rampant rumours which have been suggesting that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme will be extended from one to two years.
Speculation on social media over the past week had been building up, causing anxiety and uncertainty among current and prospective corps members.
Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa has since explained that the reports were founded on a misinterpretation of his words.
In a convocation lecture at Lagos State University (LASU) on Tuesday, Alausa addressed the issue head-on.
“At no point in time did I say the NYSC programme must be made two years. I was completely misquoted,” he asserted.
The minister explained that his original proposal had in focus the establishment of a voluntary teacher corps programme, aimed at National Colleges of Education graduates.
The programme, according to him, would be designed to tackle the deficit of quality teachers in rural and disadvantaged areas.
“We are producing a number of education graduates but the labour market is not absorbing them fast enough.
At the same time, rural communities are clamouring for teachers of essential subjects such as Mathematics, English, and Science,” Alausa stated.
He proposed that willing graduates can teach under a special two-year teacher corps, facilitated under the NYSC platform but made it clear it will be voluntary and independent of the one-year compulsory national service.
