“Protect data on our students”, Principal of COLTEK entreats NSS

The Ag. Principal of the College of Technology Education, Kumasi (COLTEK), Prof. Frederick Kwaku Sarfo has entreated the National Service Secretariat (NSS) to protect data on final-year students that the University of Education Winneba (UEW) submits to the Secretariat annually to aid in national service placements.

He emphasised that once the University has done its bit by submitting the data in response to requests by the NSS, the NSS has the exclusive responsibility to protect the data from falling into wrong hands for illegal activities. He was addressing the opening session of the 2019 Pre-NSS orientation for final year students of COLTEK.

Officials of COLTEK and some of the invited guests

He was appalled by recent developments in which some unscrupulous persons were alleged to have gained possession of the data of some students of UEW and had used same to illegally secure NSS placements.

He said that UEW was awaiting the outcome of investigations by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) and recently the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to unravel the criminal activity and bring the perpetrators to book.

Meanwhile, the Ag. Principal cautioned students to be wary of sharing their vital information with people who tend to offer favours for either employment or other material gains. He encouraged them to take calculated risks to breakthrough in life. He said it was necessary for them to do so with their “minds, eyes and ears wide open in order not to be overtaken by events.”

In his opinion, pre-NSS orientation is very important in setting the tone for students to become aware of the regulations and requirements expected of persons looking to undertake national service. Prof. Sarfo urged the students to endeavour to assimilate as much information as possible from the orientation in order to be better persons beyond life at UEW.

Students during the question and answer session of the orientation

Presentations were made on topics including The History of NSS/Rules and Regulations and Online Registration and Ezwich Issues as well as question and answer session.

Present were some COLTEK Management members including the College Registrar, Mr. Michael Kofi Adu; Deputy Registrar in-charge of University Relations, Mr. Michael Kofi Twum-Ampomah and Vice-Dean, Office of Student Affairs, COLTEK, Dr. Philip Oti-Agyen. Also present from the NSS side were the Deputy Executive Director, Dr. Gifty Oware Aboagye; Head of Information Technology, Mr. Robert Adjei; Ashanti Regional Director, Mr. Alex Opoku-Mensah; Kumasi Metropolitan Director and  other Municipal and District Directors.

Final year students in attendance

Deputy Executive Director (NSS), Dr. Gifty Oware Aboagye