Parliament is concerned - The four key questions
Parliament… wants to have a say in the decision of the exceptional suspension of the term of national guards for studying at English universities decided by the Council of Ministers. This was done so that students could anticipate the increase in tuition and terminate student loans next year. Today at 11:10 in the morning, the Minister of Defense Charalambos Petridis will be in the competent parliamentary Committee and will be "interrogated" by the deputies, giving explanations for the decision. With him will be the General Director of the Ministry of Defense and the Commander of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Demokritos Zervakis.
In essence, the Commission is acting on its own initiative as it wants to be fully informed of the decision a few days before it is implemented. The Commission is plagued by many questions which are based on the following:
First: If the decision serves the public interest.
Second: Whether there is discrimination against other students who will study in other foreign countries and perhaps the tuition is higher (eg United States of America).
Third: How will the gaps that will arise from the temporary dismissal of these national guardsmen be filled.
Fourth: If their reintegration into the army is ensured and when.
Other issues may arise from the discussion, given that the member of the Defense Committee, MP George Prokopiou, stressed to Offsite that the Minister must give many answers. As he said: "As a former soldier I receive many messages every day from the public who are anxious after this decision. I was informed that the well-known British Universities have closed positions in 2020, so with the provision of a temporary diploma, what will these conscripts do? They will be accepted in 2021 anyway ".
Moreover, "there may be discrimination against other students who have booked a place in the United States or Germany and clearly the tuition there is higher or just as expensive." But what we are most interested in is ensuring their reintegration into the National Guard. We want clear answers. "
There are safety valves
Sources in the Ministry of Defense told Offsite that there are safety valves for the National Guard. First of all, along with the application that will be made by those who will receive a temporary diploma, the certificate of study at the University will be presented. At the same time, every year the students or their relatives have to resubmit the certificate of attendance at the Universities. If the certificate is not submitted then they will automatically be reinstated in the National Guard. Upon completion of the first cycle of study (ie first degree) the student-soldiers will return to complete their term. The time period will be 12 months.
As we are informed, the applications from the interested parties will be made within the next few days since by the end of September they will prepare suitcases for Great Britain. The same sources stated that "the Minister is ready to answer any question that will be asked by the deputies".
What will happen to SYOP
Developments with student soldiers in Britain also affect conventional hoplites. The new announcement of interest will be made when the number of soldiers who will go to Great Britain to study is fully clarified.
Source: Offsite