Post-graduate studies depend on officials and courts
Previously, graduates had to prove their right to deferral at conscription offices. Uladzimir Zdanovich, the Chairman of the Education, Culture and Science Commission at the House of Representatives, says those seeking further studies are secured from this danger.
“When you read the regulations on assignment of university graduates, you will find a provision which says that those university graduates who wish to obtain a higher level of education are relieved from mandatory job assignment and even the military duty for the period of studies”, says Zdanovich.
According to the lawmaker, this provision applies both to those who continue studies in Belarus and those studying at foreign universities. Moreover, former students will not have to refund education money to the state.
Zdanovich says that in order to avoid refunding the money for education, a would-be graduate student should just notify the Ministry of Education about his or her plans. He maintains that there has been no single case when someone would be denied further education opportunities.
Meanwhile, a court in Maladzechna heard the case of Vital Aleynik, a last-year student of the Moscow-based Institute of Foreign Relations. Some time back, after spending one year at the Belarus State University in Minsk he had been detached to continue studies in Moscow. Eventually, the A-student from Belarus was offered a post-graduate course at the Moscow Institute of Foreign Relations. But the Belarusian foreign ministry reportedly gave him an ultimatum to return home and work for at least two years at the ministry or to refund the money for his education in accordance with the agreement signed by the student and the Belarusian foreign ministry.
“I received a letter from the foreign ministry, saying that I was recommended to come back and start working with the ministry. I had to answer that since I was continuing my studies, I was not able to come to work and refused from the signed agreement,” Aleynik said.
The foreign ministry then demanded to refund the money. The student went to court to sue the ministry. But the court ruled that the future diplomat refund the money. The European Radio for Belarus asked Vital if he had notified the education ministry about his intentions.
“I am hearing for the first time that I had to notify the Ministry of Education! I thought that it was a harmonious process to continue with my studies. I could think about informing the foreign ministry, but I never knew about the education ministry”, Aleynik says.
When asked why he decided to terminate his agreement with the foreign ministry before receiving an answer from the foreign ministry, Aleynik said that the letter from the foreign ministry sounded like an ultimatum. He says he was sure that he would receive a negative answer. Moreover, he feared that the Belarusian diplomats could somehow press the Moscow Institute of Foreign Relations to deny him post-graduate opportunities.
Justice Yauhen Kazlou of the Maladzechna district court ordered that Vital Aleynik refund Br 12 million ($6000) spent by the government for his education. The student also has to cover court fees of Br 600,000.
The future diplomat has not yet decided to appeal the ruling. Filing an appeal would cost him additional Br 600,000 ($300). But he says he knows that he will hardly work at the Belarusian foreign ministry. He does not understand why just one paper – a permit from the education ministry – should decide his fate.
