The youth trade-union group "Studentskaya Rada" (Students' Board) has moved an initiative to create an independent students' union. Among its priority activities will be addressing the problem of compulsory distribution of graduates; informing young people about training terms at various higher schools, and defence of rights and interests of pupils and students.

The idea to found an independent students' trade union was voiced out on June 13 at the conference on human rights.

The initiators – activists of the "Studentskaya Rada" – explained that most of the students know nothing about their rights; and in many conflict situations they do not know what to do.

The organization is closely cooperating with the Belarusian Radio and Electronic Workers' Union (REP).

"The 'Studentskaya Rada' is a legal association of students," Dmitri Gomenyuk, one of the activists, told the website www.praca-by.info. "We're registered as a unit of the REP Trade Union. At the conference (on human rights, held on June 13, – comment of the editor), an idea of creating an independent students' trade union was voiced out; however, there're no particular plans, both by dates and format. We plan to analyse the situation, discuss possible alternatives, and then make plans. So far, we continue working as our trade-union group 'Studentskaya Rada', while understanding, however, that the issue of creating an independent trade union is topical, and in the near future it should appear on the agenda.

According to Dmitri Gomenyuk, the organization plans to concentrate its efforts, in a greater degree, on human rights activities, not on social issues.

"It's necessary to deal with such issues like, for example, subjectivity of teachers in assessing students' progress, freedom of speech in the students' press, democratic character of students' organizations, including students' self-government in higher schools and universities; the problems of forcing students to take part in various actions and, certainly, the residence conditions in students' hostels, and distribution of places in them," said the trade-union activist.

One of the main problems to be addressed by activists of the "Studentskaya Rada" is the mandatory distribution of higher school graduates.

"In no case the distribution of graduates should be mandatory, even if remote localities experience deficit of specialists, since it's encroachment on human rights," said Dmitri Gomenyuk.

In the opinion of the trade-union activist, the state should improve the attractiveness of those places, where young specialists would not like to go: "The social environment and conditions of everyday life should be improved, and a decent salary should be ensured."

According to Dmitri, higher school administrations are favourable to activists of the "Studentskaya Rada".

"We're not entering any confrontations. Besides, members of our organization are successful students, and, as a matter of fact, our actions have no, as they used to say in such cases, destructive character. Therefore, they treat us positively," he has noted.

At the height of the entrance campaign, activists of the "Studentskaya Rada" has initiated compiling of the rating "Most Student-Friendly Higher School of Minsk-2010".

According to Mr Gomenyuk, this action will help the entrants of 2010 in making a more conscious choice.

"The rating will enable the entrants to decide not only on the speciality they choose, but also on the psychological atmosphere and residence conditions in hostels. In other words, we want to help young people to understand to what extent the training at the school they want to enter is comfortable," he said.