Accra, Sept. 21, GNA - The National Service Scheme (NSS), through its volunteer programme, last year saved about 5.3 billion cedis as it engaged over 2,000 volunteer teachers, who were deployed in basic and second cycle institutions.

Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports, was optimistic that by the close of this year, the amount which would be realized from the Volunteer Scheme would be over 50 per cent of what was saved last year.

The Deputy Minister said this at the NSS Volunteer Selection Programme in Accra, which was established in 2003 under the NSS and was aimed at addressing employment issues, improvement in the quality of education and development of entrepreneurial skills.

Mr Amoah said a lot of savings had also been made under the programme, since the volunteers were placed on National Service remuneration, which was lower than that of permanent staff. "Thus apart from providing teachers for some schools, the idle labour have been gainfully used for the development of the nation," he said

Mr Amoah said the 28 newly created Municipal and District Assemblies had for the shortest period, immensely benefited, "from this Voluntary Programme."

To expand the pool of those available for this national programme, Mr Amoah stated: "It is our aim to improve upon the programme and involve other key sectors for the development of the nation. "We also need to strengthen the Scheme to enable it to play its role as a major institution for moulding our youth and contributing to develop our economy and the nation," he said.

Sheikh I.C. Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, noted that the programme was aimed at strengthening teacher supply needs of the country, especially, in the rural areas. He noted further that it was to provide temporary employment for graduates as well as to create opportunities for retired professionals, to put their expertise to the advantage of the younger generation. The Regional Minister pointed out: "It is said that if your education does not benefit your neighbours, community and nation, then that kind of education is of no use."

In a welcoming address, Mr Kwame Fosu Adjen, Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinator of NSS, observed that the Scheme's objective to inculcate the spirit of volunteerism in the youth was to render support to the Government in its vision of wealth creation and poverty reduction, as captured in the Growth Poverty-Reduction Programme Strategy (GPRS) blueprint.

Mr Adjen said the Greater Accra Region received 74 volunteers last year, out of this, 56 of them were doing extended service. According to him, the group that comprised planners, engineers, building technologists and administrators, were deployed to offer manpower support for the newly created Ga East District and also to beef up manpower levels at sub-districts and sub-metros of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly. 21 Sept. 06