Meelis Oidsalu, Undersecretary for Defence Planning at the Ministry of Defence, presented certificates to graduates of Tallinn University’s national defence education teacher course.
Undersecretary Meelis Oidsalu noted that national defence courses in schools play a very specific and clear role in shaping civic awareness among young people.
‘The importance of the position of national defence instructor continues to grow. At a time when even heads of state are shooting from the hip in the public media, the role of a national defence instructor is to set an example in terms of attitude, which involves teaching young people to notice and control their inner urges so that our social activity is meaningful and not just affect and paroxysm based,’ he said.
Oidsalu stated that although national defence education is not a substitute for military service or a direct preparation for military service, it is an important subject, giving young people an idea of what awaits them in military service – research shows that young people who have participated in national defence classes adapt better to conscript service.
He added that not all current and future students studying under defence teachers will become or will soon become members of their Defence League district or conscripts, but that the knowledge gained in national defence lessons will help them to understand many other processes in our society and in the wider world.
‘As a national defence instructor, you are not only disseminating military knowledge, but by standing in front of your class you are embodying the fact that life is worth living and that values are worth fighting for. You are the disseminators of a mature civic attitude based on positive mindedness,’ said Oidsalu, emphasizing the importance of the occupation of the teaching profession in today’s society.
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