6th National Youth Festival opens

27th round National Service participants graduate

The 6th National Youth Festival got underway in Sawa today. Likewise, participants of the 27th round National Service graduated on the same day. Present on the occasion were President Isaias Afwerki, Ministers, Army Commanders, regional Administrators, Senior PFDJ officials and National Associations, as well as thousands of participants and invited guests from inside the country and abroad.

•27th round National Service participants graduate

Sawa, 18 July 2014 – The 6th National Youth Festival got underway in Sawa today. Likewise, participants of the 27th round National Service graduated on the same day. Present on the occasion were President Isaias Afwerki, Ministers, Army Commanders, regional Administrators, Senior PFDJ officials and National Associations, as well as thousands of participants and invited guests from inside the country and abroad.

Speaking on the occasion, President Isaias pointed out that persistent effort was exerted beginning with the armed struggle for independence so as to ensure development rooted in knowledge, skill and practice on the basis of free and quality education. He further noted that it is logical to ponder whether or not the past 27 rounds of the National Service program have achieved the desired outcome vis-à-vis numbers, quality education and profession. However, despite the conspiracies encountered, the nation’s efforts to promote quality education and professionalism have gained momentum, President Isaias elaborated.

Moreover, he indicated that over 80% of the NSP participants who did not acquire a passing mark in the national matriculation exam would benefit from a vocational training program being planned, beginning with the  26th round.

In a report he presented, Col. Debesai Gide, Commander of the Sawa National Training Centre, explained that the participants of the 27th round were from 83 Secondary and 7 Technical Schools across the nation. He also stated that they received the set military and academic training, in addition to development activities. Col. Debesai also stated that about 500 thousand youths have participated in national development and national resistance tasks over the past 20 years since the launching of the NSP.

As regards the National Youth Festival, Mr. Saleh Ahmedin, Chairman of the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS), noted the paramount role that the NUEYS has played in reinforcing the awareness of the youths and the bequeathing cherished values of the Eritrean people and that of the PFDJ.

The participants of the 27th NSP presented impressive military parade, besides taking oath to serve the nation and the Government with dedication in line with the commitment to honor the trust of martyrs.

Among the graduates of the 27th round National Service Program, those who achieved in the academic, political and military training domains received prizes from President Isaias Afwerki and the Secretary of the PFDJ, Mr. Al-Amin Mohammed-Seid.

The opening of the graduation ceremony witnessed the staging of artistic and cultural performances, thus adding color to the event.

Meanwhile, reports indicated that seminars, exhibition and discussion forums, among others, would feature at the ongoing 6th National Youth Festival in Sawa.