Benefits of Attending National Service for University Students.
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Our Malaysian government has introduced National Service in the year 2004 which indeed expects the participants of both male and female youths who are 18 years old are required to participate in this programme. “This programme is compulsory and it is almost similar to military training. National Service is not fully military oriented simply because there is no usage of weapons in this programme” said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the Defense Minister (http://www.xfresh.com/edufeatured.asp?id=4110). Participants of the National Service programme undergo modules that have been set according to the social, culture and economical situation of our country. There are four modules altogether and they are the nation-building module called “Modul Kenegaraan” in Malay, character building module, physical module and community service module. Each one of this module has its own importance. National Service is a compendium of basic military training and the instilling human values into the younger generation. Actually there are a lot of benefits of attending National Service especially for university students who can apply them in their university life.

Firstly, participants that take part in this precious activity that is organized by our government, learn the meaning of patriotism which leads them to love their own university and make their university proud as they make their country proud. Patriotism is nothing new in our lives where its values have been taught to us for many years through the Moral subject. This subject have been taught in the form of theory when we were studying in school. Whereas in National Service, “these patriotism values are put into practice and also taught through the nation-building module”. (http://www.khidmatnegara.gov.my/module.htm para 2). Thus, this helps to spread the knowledge of nation-building and increases the love for the country in every participant. Besides that, this knowledge indirectly gets implemented by the university students who have attended this programme when they get into their universities where these university students will have a strong passion towards our country and at the same time, they will love their universities and work hard to raise the good image of their universities.

On the other hand, participants are also trained on how to socialize with the public. During National Service, participants get involved into group work and everything was done as a team. In all teams, there are participants of all races and religions. However, they all work and do activities together, have fun and a lots of interaction among themselves which exposed the participants to the various lifestyles of participants of other races and get to know a lots of new things. Finally, this factor will form a closer bond among the participants of all races.(http://www.xfresh.com/edufeatured.asp?id=4110). In addition, students who have attended National Service will learn to help the poor and others who need them in the universities as well as socialize with the students around them. During National Service, participants are also taught many living skills. A few technical works were also taught and this knowledge will surely help the students to utilize these techniques during their assignments and other activities. When the participants learn to socialize during National Service, they gain self-confidence and become brave to confront many things in their life. In universities, by socializing with the students around them, they are encouraged to join societies and clubs which can help to rise up the university’s name.

Furthermore, participants were also trained on how to live an independent life which helps the students to live the campus life happily and peacefully. During National Service, the participants will face every obstacles on their own without the help or aid from their parents, family members and relations. Besides that, participants have to do the chores on their own such as washing their own clothes, getting up on time, “learn to socialize and behave among the participants obediently and being sincere to one another” (http://www.khidmatnegara.gov.my/module.htm para 3). All these experiences help university students to face their campus life easily. Which also motivate the students to be independent in solving their assignments that were given by their lecturer. Apart from that, students will automatically know how to manage their time independently and also systematically. Students will also learn what is sincerity and they will be able to be sincere in their assignments and there will be no plagiarism. As a result of being independent during National Service, students gain self-confidence which helps them to be brave to present their project in front of the other students and lecturers.

Finally, participants of National Service are trained on leadership, team building and discipline on themselves which enables the students to lead societies and other organizations. “National Service trains the participants on team building and leadership qualities well. During National Service, participants are given certain responsibilities. A few of the participants would be named as the head of certain departments” (http://www.khidmatnegara.gov.my/module.htm para 3 and 4). With that responsibilities, the participants would be able to show their talent and also maintained and improved whereas the weaknesses are overcomed. Moreover, the participants get motivated, learn new communication skills and organization management which leads participants to have a lots of leadership qualities within themselves. “Leadership, team building and discipline are matters that are related to each other”. (http://www.khidmatnegara.gov.my/objektif.htm). Discipline is build in students who have attended National Service and this helps them to be punctual in handing in assignments in their universities. Team work is also a very important aspect in National Service and it helps the university students to do their group projects successfully. Furthermore, students were also taught some basic survival skills that could be applied in their campus life.

In conclusion, National Service is a programme to create disciplined generation, positive thinking, a sincere Malaysian and peace lover. It instills patriotism and human values among the students and develops love and passion for our country. With all these values, many disciplined students are formed and these students will be brave to face all obstacles and challenges in life. Thus, the university students who attend National Service benefit a lot from attending the programme.


by,
R.Kanesaraj