Out of the 141,332 applicants who commenced the application process for Nation Builders’ Corps (NaBCo), 109,271 have completed and successfully submitted their applications.

This means that 32,060 applicants who commenced the process are yet to complete and submit their applications to meet the deadline of Friday, June 1, 2018.

Co-ordinator for NaBCo, Dr Anyars Ibrahim explained that those yet to submit their application may be working on information requests such as personal statement comprising expectations, aspirations, and ambition, among others.

To keep faith with applicants, he said breakdown of regional and modular applications would only be made available on close of applications on Friday, June 1, 2018.

It has been explained that the central objective of the new programme, unlike the Youth Employment Programme, is to engage the raw talents of unemployed graduates and equip them with skills through a process of value addition and training.

The scheme will this year employ 100,000 graduates under seven modules; namely, Educate Ghana, Heal Ghana, Feed Ghana, Revenue Ghana, Digitize Ghana, Civic Ghana and Enterprise Ghana.

June 4 to 15 to select interview date

Dr Anyars explained that all applicants can select suitable interview slots – time and date – for their chosen module and district from June 4 to 15, 2018.
He said interviews would be conducted in all districts from July 18 to 25, 2018.

Interviews take place July 30 to August 3

According to him, orientation for the selected 100,000 would take place at the district level from July 30 to August 3, 2018.
Passing-out ceremony

The NaBCo Co-ordinator explained that a passing-out ceremony would be organised at regional locations on Saturday, August 4, 2018.

Placement of recruits

“From Monday, 6th August, 2018, Nation Builders’ Corps (NaBCo) trainees will commence placement on their modules.

“Each trainee will be given a three-year contract under a work and learning arrangement.
“For every four weeks of work, one week will be dedicated to skills development and training.

“This results in a cumulative 12-week worth of core training, in addition to the on-the-job training every year,” he said.

Monitoring and evaluation

Dr Anyars stated that monitoring and evaluation of trainees would be conducted against the standards set for training and the skills acquisition expected of trainees.

To this end, he said, a partnership has been initiated between NaBCo, Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET), and a university partner to evaluate trainees, leading to an exit certification upon completion at the end of the three years.

“It is important to note that the system has been designed to be fair to every applicant.

“Therefore, applicants must remain confident that they can make it through to placement without requiring any undue intervention on their behalf. There is no protocol list anywhere; do not be deceived into paying anyone for such favours as there is none.

“On preparation for the interviews, what I will say is that please take the process seriously. Prepare for the interviews by staying familiar with information on the website – www.nabco.gov.gh.

“This will deepen your knowledge and understanding of the scheme, as well as the module you applied for.
“Avoid being late and show up on your appointment date and time ready and confident,” Dr Anyars said.

Equal opportunity recruitment and fairness

Every step of the way, NaBCo has been fair to applicants.
Most arrangements have avoided personal influences: an online application followed by online appointments for interviews.
Natural processes of recruitment equally entail other evaluative arrangements such as interviews.

This has been decentralised in district basis. Such flexibility takes account of applicants’ need for reassurance within a certain comfort zone, as well as costs associated with travel and lodging.

Regarding the panel to conduct the interviews, their only preoccupation is to make judgement on an applicant’s suitability to be placed in their chosen module.

Membership of interview panel

In every district, a panel of five will consist of a representative of the district assembly, a member of the NaBCo Secretariat, an official from National Service Secretariat, a representative from a module implementation partner, and a representative from the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.
In all cases, applicants will be validated and processed through the interview.

Successful applicants

If successful, an applicant will receive a text notification within three days of the interview.

The notification will advise on the next steps, including how to print the engagement letter from the web portal.

Orientation

Once successful applicants submit their letters to the district of placement, they will be processed to commence a five-day orientation.
In all districts, the dates for NaBCo Orientation are from July 30 to August 3, 2018.

This shall include a military component on resilience, endurance, positive attitude, discipline and responsibility.
Passing-out ceremony

Once orientation is over, the successful trainees will all converge at their respective regional capital for a passing-out ceremony.

From August 6, 2018, trainees are expected to commence their placement in their chosen module within the organisations and enterprises they have been placed.