On October 10, 2003 the State Duma will consider the draft law prepared by the Duma Committee abolishing the optional nature of the "Initial Military Training" course in secondary schools and colleges. According to item 7 of Article 14 of the law 'On Education" teaching of the military training course is possible only with desire and consent of the students and their parents. The Defence Committee proposes abolishing this provision and introducing mandatory military training in the two final school years with mandatory exercises at camps.

In June 2003 State Duma Committee for Education and Science gave this draft law its negative verdict.

The Head of the Committee Alexander Shishlov (the YABLOKO faction) said that "the law "On Education" had satisfactory wording in compliance with the Constitution, legislation and common sense, and that there was no need to change it." "From the point of view of the [new] law, training of citizens for military service is a part of the educational process and students are subjects of legal relationships here. Most schoolchildren and college students are not even reservists at their age," stressed Shishlov.

"In considering the initiative of the Duma Defence Committee at the plenary meeting our Committee will be categorically against [this law]," noted Shishlov. - If the Defence Ministry has free money, it would be better to spend them on military reform and transfer the army to a contract basis. If the Ministry does not need the money, they should send it to schools so that the former could use it for peaceful purposes."

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