Was it mandatory for students? I don't know about the specifics of that case, but but if I was forced to learn a language solely because there are many people

Was it mandatory for students? I don't know about the specifics of that case, but but if I was forced to learn a language solely because there are many people who speak that language in the country, I would be upset. I want to learn the languages that are more useful to me, not to other people.