FDP wants Bundeswehr youth officers in schools
A controversial debate on the deployment of youth officers in schools, as requested by the FDP, is expected to take place on Thursday in the Schwerin state parliament. "We have heard from the Bundeswehr that soldiers are not so popular there. In addition, many schools don't even seem to know that the offer exists to provide information about the role of the Bundeswehr and the situation in the world," said FDP parliamentary group leader René Domke on Monday, explaining his party's proposal to involve youth officers more than before in school lessons.
According to the motion, political education in the areas of international and security policy has gained enormous relevance in the wake of the Russian attack on Ukraine and the armed conflict between Hamas and Israel. Youth officers could help to deepen pupils' understanding of Germany's role in the world. A democratically legitimized institution such as the Bundeswehr should not be banned from the public sphere.
The Greens and the Left Party, on the other hand, have already made it clear that they are critical of the FDP's proposal. "The debate about making the Bundeswehr fit for war is going in the wrong direction," said Torsten Koplin from the left-wing parliamentary group. If officers are invited to schools, representatives of peace initiatives should always have their say there too. "The Left insists on parity," said Koplin. "Diversity must be maintained," demanded Green Party parliamentary group leader Harald Terpe.
CDU MP Sebastian Ehlers emphasized that youth officers were not there to recruit recruits for the Bundeswehr. The area of deployment was clearly defined in an agreement reached between the state government and the state command in 2010. "I am curious to see how the Ministry of Education, now led by the Left Party, will deal with this," said Ehlers.
According to the FDP, the existing cooperation agreement needs to be updated in light of the new world situation. For example, youth officers should also be included in the training of trainee teachers for social studies and history.
The debate in the Sch Werin state Parliament regarding FDP's proposal to involve Bundeswehr youth officers in schools may also involve discussions about their role in promoting education about defense and international affairs. Critics, such as the Greens and the Left Party, have expressed concerns about maintaining diversity and ensuring that peace initiatives have a voice in these discussions.
In light of the updated cooperation agreement, it's important for Bundeswehr youth officers to also participate in the training of trainee teachers in social studies and history, providing a comprehensive perspective on defense and global affairs within the education system.
Source: www.dpa.com
