Gov prepares to commence National Service Program for low scorers

The President's Office has begun administrative work on setting up a section in the office to oversee the National Service Program where low scorers will be drafted into MNDF and Police when they turn 16 years of age.

An announcement has now been made seeking staff for the section.

The National Service Program was announced by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu at the function held to mark Victory Day last year.

He said then that he intends to bring in 1000 new recruits each year to MNDF within the next four years, and a total of 1000 new recruits to Police within this term in office.

He said that the program will be commenced this year.

Today, the President's Office announced seeking a Deputy Director and Assistant Director for their National Service Coordination Secretariat. This is a new section that has been set up at the office.

The main responsibilities of these two posts will be to conduct administrative work around the program on the advice of the section head, and to review the actions that needs to be taken in collaboration with other related institutions. They must prepare a timeline for actions that need to be taken to conduct the program, monitor it, evaluate the progress of the program and conduct assessments.

As per the announcement, the post of Deputy Director comes with a monthly salary of MVR 15,918 and Assistant Director's post offers a monthly salary of MVR 14,700.

Those who apply for the Deputy Director post must demonstrate their skills and abilities, and have Level 5 or 6 certification in a related field, and 9 years experience in a related field.

Those who apply for the Assistant Director post hold at minimum a diploma and have 6 years work experience.

Deadline for applications is 1pm next Sunday. The announcement said that only shortlisted candidates will be interviewed for the posts.

The President has previously said that each year, about 2000 to 3000 students who complete O'levels are not qualified to study for A'levels. He said that about 500 to 1000 students who complete A'levels are not qualified to join degree programs.

As such, students who do not pursue higher studies after reaching the age of 16 will be made to join the National Service Program.

Once they complete the recruitment program, they will be drafted into MNDF or Police.

The President said then that students who end up unemployed due to low marks cannot be drafted into national service as the law stands now. He said that this leads to children descending into lives of crime and drugs, posing loss to the economy and society and prove to be a burden on the State.

He maintains that providing proper military training would bring development to such children and their families.

This year's budget has an allocation of MVR 400 million for the program. President Muizzu earlier announced that each year, MVR 400 million will be added to the budget for the program.