Education has been viewed as one of the most essential elements of individual and social development. One topic now under debate is who should make the decisions on what students study. Academically, students will gain benefits if the curriculum can be devised by the government. Learners need foundations before they acquire more advanced knowledge. Without opportunities to learn the basics, students would find it difficult to further their studies or lose interest in their studies altogether. In terms of meeting the demand of the job market, it would be more efficient if the government plan and arrange the courses for school and universities. Students' own selections of courses may be random. Most of them do not really know what the job market expects from them, so some guidance from the government is a necessity. However, this does not mean that the official curriculum is always productive. Educators should be aware of the fact that individuals have different characters and abilities. If all the students in a certain field take the same courses, their potential may not be fully developed. Accordingly, many talented students may feel frustrated with learning and the nation will not get the talent it needs for its advancement. My own opinion is that students in primary and secondary schools should take courses that the governments choose for them because they do not really have the capacity to find out courses that will serve their purposes. On the university level, though, students should be allowed to participate in the decision-making process of designing the curriculum as only in this way can their academic potential be fully explored.