CAIRO: Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Moselhi said that university graduates exempt from military service this year will be appointed to work in public services. “Public service isn't mandatory, but it's an essential prerequisite for employment and is a national duty,” Reda Abdel Wareth, head of public service administration at the Ministry of Social Solidarity, told Daily News Egypt. The decision stipulates that 2010 male graduates who are considered a surplus to the requirements of the military as well as female graduates will be directed to work in literacy projects as a first priority as well as family planning and public mobilization and statistics. However, students who receive temporary exemption or postponement from performing the military service, as well as those appointed in a governmental post or in a private organization — on condition they present their job contract — and engineering and medicine students will be exempt from the public service. According to Abdel Wareth, registration at social solidarity administrations in each governorate starts next September while applicants are set to begin their 12-month service starting October. Those enrolled will be required to work six days per week, six hours every day. They will also receive a monthly incentive. Students are assigned according to the needs of each governorate, be it on literacy projects or others, and receive a certificate accredited from the governor by the end of their public service period. However, students had mixed reactions to the assignment decision. “It's a good thing for illiterate people; however, for us it's frustrating because one awaits exemption from the military service to begin his career so we don't need an additional hurdle in our way,” said Rafeek Joseph, a mass communications graduate who was exempt from military service. “How are they going to make sure that job contracts presented are authentic and not fake; also, a lot of graduates work on a freelance basis without contracts,” he said. Yasser Hussein, a graduate of the faculty of commerce at Cairo University and also exempt from military service, echoed Joseph's sentiments. “Once I graduate, I need one year or two to do free studies to prepare for the work field, doing the public service will add another year to the burden,” he said. “I changed my major from arts to commerce because I found that I wasn't capable of teaching so how will I be assigned to teach illiterate people?” he asked. On the other hand, Mohamed Youssef, a graduating senior at the faculty of law at Cairo University, said he would choose doing public service over military service. “At least I will have the opportunity to find a job and stay at home and at the same time benefit the society while doing this public service, contrary to the military service which is considered a wasted year,” he said.
