240 national service participants placed in alternative jobs, says president

President Mohamed Muizzu said on Thursday that 240 participants who were not selected in the first intake of the National Service Programme have been placed in alternative jobs aligned with their stated preferences.

The National Service Programme was launched in May last year with the aim of recruiting 1,000 personnel annually to strengthen the country’s security services.

A total of 350 participants joined the first round of training, of whom 344 completed the programme and graduated in December. From this group, 65 participants aged between 16 and 19 were selected to proceed to vocational training.

In his presidential address at the opening sitting of Parliament on Thursday, President Muizzu said the selected participants began technical training at the B. Kihaadhoo Technical and Vocational Centre on 15 January.

Of the remaining participants, 278 were not selected for vocational training. The President said employment had been arranged for 240 of them in sectors they had expressed interest in. The remaining 38 participants indicated a preference to seek employment in the private sector.

According to the President, job placements were arranged as follows: 171 participants were placed with the Maldives National Defence Force, seven with MNDF fire and rescue services, 32 with the Aviation and Ports Security Command, 23 with the Maldives Police Service, five with the Maldives Immigration, and three with Maldives Airports Company Limited.

President Muizzu said a second batch of 350 participants is currently undergoing training. He added that the government plans to enrol a further 1,000 youths in the programme this year.

The National Service Programme was initiated by President Muizzu to provide employment pathways for young people facing barriers to further education. The President said participants are required to undergo military training, and those who complete the programme will be eligible to join the armed forces or police. He said the programme is expected to add about 5,000 personnel to the security services over the next four years.