The results of a recent survey by China Youth Daily shows that nearly 90 percent of respondents prefer "dispensable courses", highlighting a worrying trend of utilitarianism among students, says an article in Guangming Daily. Excerpts:

These courses, like love psychology, evolutionary psychology in daily life, appreciation of classic Oscar winners, Harry Potter and genetics, have become the most popular among university students, as absenteeism is not a problem and it is easy to pass tests and get credits.

The regrettable fact is many students hold a utilitarian attitude towards studying: they don't study to learn but study to get a job. Along with the expansion of enrolment, elite education has become mass education and strict rules and management have been loosened; great loopholes exist in many universities' management of course credits and understanding of optional courses.

Universities should take the following steps to correct the situation.

First, strengthen supervision and management of performance accessing.

Second, dispensable courses should be reappraised and some excluded.

Third, more attention should be paid to the goal and standards of general education.

It is worth noting here that eliminating dispensable courses is a must-do if we are to improve the quality of higher education, and it is an important step if China is to change from a big country of higher education to a big power of higher education.

(China Daily 04/26/2012 page9)