In Azerbaijan, military service is considered a constitutional duty for every male citizen. In recent years, the issue of providing certain concessions in this area to young people who have demonstrated high academic results has been a subject of discussion. Experts believe that there is a need to create new mechanisms to make more effective use of the knowledge and skills of young people who shape the country’s intellectual potential and achieve success in science and education.
Could special concessions in military service be applied to graduates who finish school with high results or honors?
elchi reports that expert Uzeyir Jafarov, in a statement to KONKRET.az regarding the topic, stated that young people who successfully complete their secondary education should be given special attention both during the call-up for military service and in society.
“I have been saying for many years that if we have young people who have successfully completed their secondary education and are inclined towards science, culture, and innovation, we must create maximum conditions for them. We must protect such young people both during the call-up for military service and in society,” emphasized Uzeyir Jafarov.
The expert substantiated this opinion with an incident he recently encountered. According to him, Jeyhun Huseynov, a graduate of the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy who received a master’s degree in Israel and completed internships in various foreign countries, was one of the highly prepared and promising young people. However, while fulfilling his military service duty to the Motherland, he lost his life just 20 days before completing his service.
“We must protect such educated and promising young people. Their knowledge and skills should be used for the development of the state.
Not everyone has the opportunity to receive a diploma with honors. Nevertheless, certain concessions and privileges regarding military service should be prepared for graduates who show high results.
There are still certain gaps in this direction. I believe that special concessions should be provided for graduates who complete their education with honors or high results. In this regard, I appeal to the relevant committees of the Milli Majlis and the Ministry of Science and Education. Concrete mechanisms for concessions and privileges for graduates should be developed and implemented,” he said.
The military expert added that the adoption of a law on alternative service in Azerbaijan should also be brought to the agenda and appropriate steps should be taken in this direction. According to him, such mechanisms can contribute both to the protection of the potential of young people and to the development of the country’s intellectual resources.