France is set to reinstate mandatory National Service for all 16-year-olds in a move designed to promote social cohesion and national pride.
Critics are worried the move will be too costly and fall short of President Emmanuel Macron’s initial plan to reintroduce a form of it for French citizens.
President Macron floated the idea of some form of National Service in his electoral manifesto, saying it would be “useful to society but also to the youth who does it,” citing the merits of “commitment and living together”.
The new National Service would be rolled out in two stages, with the first being a one-month compulsory placement, consisting of two weeks in share housing to promote a “social mix”.
The second stage would see teenagers housed in smaller, more “personalised” conditions, according to Education Minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer.
The new requirement will be partially held during the school holidays. For under 25s, an optional second phase lasting three to 12 months would be offered if they “wish to get more committed.”
Mr Blanquer says the way the service is structured falls in the fields as diverse as “defence, environment, caring, tutoring and culture".
He says participants will benefit from ‘varied and targeted” incentives such as university credits or funding.
The announcement drew anger from the political opposition, Marine Le Pen, head of the newly-renamed National Rally (ex-Front National) calling it “pointless”, adding that three months was the minimum to instill a sense of patriotism and promote social cohesion.
Adrien Quatennens of Leftist group France Unbowed called it mere “tinkering” as the government set “no aim” and had only a “limited budget”.
Front National President Marine Le Pen. Source: Getty Images
During his 2017 presidential campaign, Mr Macron suggested "direct experience of military life" should be compulsory for all French citizens, saying it should be for a minimum of one month for people aged between 18 and 21.
However, his original idea has been watered down partly due to concerns that it would be too costly, putting a strain on the French armed forces.
The cost of the program is estimated at 1.6 billion euros ($2.5 billion) per year to run, with 1.75 billion euros of investment upfront.
French youth will be consulted in October, with parents, teachers' unions and local governments involved before any decisions on how the mandatory phase will work.
France is aiming to have 700,000 participants by 2026, with the new National Service starting as early as next summer, a working group on the issue recommended.
Mr Macron is the first French president not to have done compulsory National Service, since it was scrapped in 1996 when he was 18.
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