ARMED FORCES TARGET SPECIAL NEEDS PUPILS
MOD UNDER FIRE OVER VISITS ACROSS SCOTLAND
MILITARY recruiters are targeting schoolkids with learning or physical difficulties.
Campaigners have branded the bid to sign up vulnerable pupils “unacceptable“.
primary purpose is defence rather than educational, if no recruitment outcome was expected?”
MSPs this week called on the Scottish Government to ensure messages given to kids by military officers on school visits were “appropriate”, following concerns about pupils being encouraged to leave school and join the military.
The Scottish Parliament’s public petitions committee said the Government should carry out a nationwide study of the impact of school visits by the armed forces.
MSPs have also demanded more data on the number of visits in Scotland each year, calling on the MoD to make clear exactly which schools they attend and how often.
Sangster said: “There is clearly a strong recruitment aspect to military visits in schools across Scotland.
“The committee have noted this, saying visits ‘form part of the recruitment journey’.
“We are pleased that it has been recognised and call for greater oversight of recruitment in schools.” Previously, Quakers in Scotland and ForcesWatch warned military visits were “often more tailored and directed to those at risk of disengaging with education or work or those who struggle academically”.
The Together: Scottish Alliance on Child Rights, said: “We welcome the call from the public petitions committee for the Scottish Government to carry out a child rights impact assessment on military visits to schools and hope this is the first step towards the UK meeting its wider obligations to children’s human rights.”
A Quakers in Britain spokeswoman said: “We are delighted the committee has recognised our concerns and welcome the call for the Scottish Government to undertake a child rights impact assessment.”
The MoD said: “Our armed forces are the pride of the UK and keep us safe every hour of every day – it is absolutely right they engage with young people to share their experiences and to talk about the military’s contribution to our society.
“As the recent report by the Scottish Parliament’s petitions committee notes, these visits are not done for recruitment purposes and the armed forces attend at the invitation of schools.”
Recruiters for armed forces target special needs schools
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