Open University Graduates To Join NYSC Scheme.

National Open University graduates are not allowed to take part in the National Youth Service Corps scheme because they are considered as part-time students and they will have to get an exemption letter from the university to get a job most times.

Graduates of National Open University (NOUN) that are under 30 may no longer need to go through the rigours of trying to collect their letter of exemption from the National Youth Service Corps scheme.

Their clamour to be part of the NYSC scheme has received the backing of the Senate.

On Thursday, the Senate approved the National Youth Service Corps scheme for NOUN graduates, with the passage of the National Open University of Nigeria Bill sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TetFund Senator Jibrin Barau.

Identifying key points of the bill when presenting it to the Senate, Senator Barau pointed out that it would address issues relating to opening access for the teeming youth and adult working population to fulfill their dream of acquiring tertiary education.

The Bill was an amendment of the existing legislation with an intention of removing the perception of the public about the university in respect of the word, `correspondence'.

The lawmaker said: “The word correspondence gives the impression that the university is not a full time university and as such is seen as part time.

“These two concepts, ” correspondence” and ”part-time” significantly affect the way the public views the programmes run by the university.

“This has been the reason why the Law graduates of the school are not admitted into the Nigerian Law School as well as the reason for the non inclusion of the graduates of the university into the NYSC scheme”

According to Senator Barau, the amendment would allow those that pass out through the university to be included in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps scheme.

“The law graduates from this institution are not enrolled into the Nigerian Law School which is a set back to the graduates of law,” he said.

The amendment also allows for the inclusion of Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a means of giving out instructions.

The Senator believes that the amendment would strengthen the educational sector especially in improving the functions and delivery of education by NOUN.

After the Bill scaled third reading in the Senate, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki commended those who worked on the bill for the success achieved, and expressed optimism that adding ICT as a means of instructing students would improve lecturers teaching ability and student's understanding.

Source: 

National Open University Of Nigeria