It has been barely a week that I chanced upon an announcement at my university's website stating that from Nov 30, 2005 the National Accreditation Board (LAN) of the Ministry of Education (MOE) has declared that international students no longer have to take Malaysian Studies and National Language in order to graduate. This is a wise move in order to attract foreign students.

However, it is still compulsory for Malaysian students to not only attend Malaysian Studies and Moral Studies (so-called LAN subjects) classes but also to pass these subjects in a final examination at the end of semester. If a student does not pass these subjects, he or she cannot obtain a degree although he or she passes with flying colours all other subjects relevant to the degree.

Concentrating on obtaining a degree is already stressful enough, what more having to attend an additional three hours a week per subject for Malaysian Studies and Moral Studies respectively. Furthermore, these classes are held after 5pm to prevent clashes with degree-relevant classes.

At the end of a long day, students will not be paying full attention to what is being said in Moral or Malaysian Studies classes. So any aim whatsoever of these classes being made compulsory will not be achieved in the end. Students pursuing pre-university courses like A-levels are also not exempted. Regardless of the qualification pursued, students will always try to give their best effort when it comes to results.

Malaysians undertaking pre-university and university level studies are at least 18 years of age. They are mature enough to decide for themselves actions and decisions most suitable for themselves. We can choose extracurricular activities that can not only accommodate our interests but nurture skills useful when it comes to the job market and contributing to society.

If the MOE intends to force into a mould the mentality of students in private institutions of higher education, their efforts will be futile in the short or long run. In addition to that, this will only encourage Malaysians pursuing twinning programmes to complete their studies overseas rather than considering the possibility of completing their degree locally. Why should they be forced to take additional compulsory subjects to obtain a local degree equivalent to one offered overseas with no such compulsory subjects?

Please spare Malaysian students from the burden of these subjects. After Moral Studies from Primary One to Form Five or Six, those pursuing studies in private colleges and universities should not be forced to study subjects like Moral Studies anymore.