Student Union stresses that the National Defence Service (NDS) should primarily exclude from recruiting students and graduates, informs Student Union of Latvia (LSA).
On August 6, after assessing the current geopolitical situation and international experience, the LSA at its Council meeting took a position on the National Defence Service that states that they consider National Defence Service an important and welcomed tool for strengthening national defence.
LSA informed that after an objective assessment of the number of places to be filled, the places that are not filled voluntarily should be filled by lottery, where persons who are currently studying or have graduated are to be excluded from the database of persons. The inclusion of students in the National Defence Service should be organised on a voluntary basis.
“LATVIA IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE OF HIGH-LEVEL SPECIALISTS, WHICH HAS LED TO A SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOUR IN SEVERAL FIELDS, SUCH AS MEDICINE, TEACHING, ENGINEERING,” SAYS THE LSA STATEMENT.
«In the case of recruitment of students and graduates, these persons are limited in their opportunities to pursue their future professional development, which would support the economic, scientific and other development of other important fields,» stresses the LSA.
ACCORDING TO LSA, TO ATTRACT YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE RELEVANT AGE GROUP TO JOIN THE SERVICE, THE SERVICE SHOULD BE DESIGNED IN A WAY THAT, AFTER LEAVING IT, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAR THEIR STUDY LOANS AND BENEFIT FROM VARIOUS SUPPORT MECHANISMS, SUCH AS FULLY FUNDED HIGHER EDUCATION IN A CHOSEN STUDY PROGRAMME.
Student Union considers that it is necessary to strengthen awareness of national defence and the importance of critical fields when it comes to threats to national security. It is necessary to assess the possibility of supplementing the content of the study courses with teaching material that would enable a graduate to participate in national defence in case of a national threat.
The LSA also calls on Ministry of defence to objectively assess whether the recruitment of students and graduates is vital and what risks it may pose to the labour market and the economic development of the country as a whole.
In addition, how many young people should be recruited each year, assessing the state’s financial and other resources to establish a high quality service.