Starehe Member of Parliament Amos Mwago has proposed the introduction of mandatory community service for all learners upon completion of their secondary education.
Mwago plans to present his proposal to the National Assembly for deliberation, aiming to provide practical skills and civic responsibility to students, especially those unable to afford higher education.
Mwago, affiliated with the Jubilee Party, believes that mandatory community service would equip students who do not qualify for higher education with the necessary skills to earn a living. “Mandatory community service for all students upon completion of secondary school education would equip them with technical and life skills for the marketplace,” he reiterated.
The proposal aims to address the high unemployment rate among the youth, who are often left in limbo after completing their secondary education. Mwago emphasized that this initiative would not only provide essential skills but also deter youth from joining criminal gangs by keeping them engaged in constructive activities.
According to Mwago, mandatory community service training would encourage learners to develop an understanding of civic responsibility and strengthen community bonds. Although he did not provide specific details of the training, typical community service activities include cleaning public spaces, volunteering, and planting trees.
This proposal comes nearly a year after the Presidential Working Party on Educational Reforms suggested a similar idea. On August 1st of last year, the team proposed that students completing their secondary school education should undergo mandatory training for three months, akin to the National Youth Service (NYS) program of the 1980s. They also recommended that university graduates undergo nine months of mandatory community service before entering the job market.
The report from the working party stated, “MoE to develop and operationalize a policy for mandatory community service-learning programs for all students upon completion of senior school, TVET, and university education.”
If Mwago’s proposal is approved, it will pave the way for a structured program aimed at empowering young Kenyans with the skills and sense of duty necessary to contribute positively to society