ENVIRONMENT influences the development of individuals. The environment plays a crucial role in shaping the future of individuals. It plays a significant role in shaping an individual’s learning process through the input they receive. Moreover, it’s not just education that shapes one’s mindset, but also access to opportunities that provide the best life experiences. In Pakistan, CSS offers young individuals a chance to serve their country while also providing them with various opportunities for professional growth. However, this exam challenges students to avoid cramming and embrace critical thinking. With job prospects dwindling, a majority of university graduates now have their sights set on the CSS exam as they hope to enter the civil services.
The FPSC provides a clear guideline for exam preparation, but there is a significant gap between its demands and the education system we have in the country. The FPSC report on the CSS exam highlights the importance of strong critical thinking skills for students to pass. Furthermore, it has also been noted that students must engage in extensive reading to acquire proficiency in diverse areas and solve questions that encompass multiple aspects. Moreover, it has been indicated that students must possess a competitive intellectual level and exhibit their capacity for innovative thinking. FPSC expects aspirants to possess strong English writing skills, considering it a top requirement.
To meet these demands, one must invest both time and money to acquire the required skills. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, the education system falls short of providing a fair playing field for all individuals to flourish. CSS exam features students from different backgrounds. The majority of people belong to the middle and lower middle class, and a large number of students in this group receive education from the government sector. On the flip side, there are plenty of students who are from affluent and elite families. These students take advantage of excellent educational opportunities, enabling them to become the type of students who can fulfil FPSC’s requirements.
CSS witnesses a large number of foreign graduates every year, who smoothly progress towards their career goals in civil services. In CSS, one’s allocation greatly relies on the interview phase following their qualification in the written part of the exam. The importance of exposure and life experiences is once again highlighted in this phase. Candidates with better education and experience typically perform better and secure desirable positions in civil services. Those who lack access to quality education suffer in their performance in exams and interviews. Based on the statistical analysis of CSS results, it can be inferred that the majority of top performers in CSS are either foreign graduates or graduates from the best universities in Pakistan.
Hence, there is an opportunity gap, owing to the disparities in the education sector, between individuals with access to superior educational resources and those without. In the realm of competitive exams, the education system should offer a fair chance for everyone to take part in CSS. Ensuring fairness in exams and interviews is not enough for a fair chance; the education system must also be transformed to give equal opportunities to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The transformation of the country’s schooling system into a uniform system is necessary to ensure equal education and opportunities for all children. A system needs to be designed to ensure that all students, regardless of their family background and access to quality education, develop the intellectual capacity to compete in this examination.
Furthermore, there exists a vast gap in English writing abilities among students in the country. Learning a language demands consistent effort from students and teachers alike, spanning several years. Regrettably, the education system in Pakistan fails to provide students with the necessary English writing skills, even after they graduate. On the flip side, those who can afford quality education breeze through CSS exams with the assistance of their honed English writing skills. The interview process poses a recurring challenge for underprivileged students, particularly those from marginalized areas striving to leave an impression. The system demonstrates a preference for individuals who excel in speaking and writing. The education system holds the responsibility of training all students equally, enabling genuine competition in competitive exams.
The focus of educational reforms should be on revamping government school and college infrastructure and curriculum. Negligence must be surpassed and educational equality should be embraced. The CSS exam necessitates years of skill development, with students from top educational systems excelling in a limited time, while those with poor educational backgrounds struggle to reach the finish line of this competitive race. The determination of policymakers is what determines it. States that have worked towards eliminating educational disparities have accomplished their objectives. The only solution to provide equal opportunities in CSS is to reform our education system for the benefit of the middle and lower classes.
The idea of education promoting disparities seems illogical, as some states have made efforts to provide education to all and reduce societal disparities. Singapore stands out as a prime example of a nation with a 97 percent literacy rate and equal educational opportunities. Selecting the best candidates for serving Pakistan is the main goal of the CSS exam. However, if educational disparities persist and we don’t reform the education sector, this competitive exam will lose its competitiveness, benefiting only the privileged.
CSS aims to integrate all segments of the population into the mainstream and offers an opportunity for everyone to join civil services and serve the country. Unless the education system is revamped to offer equal education to all children, the CSS exam competition will remain largely one-sided. Although anyone can develop a skill enough to pass CSS, many choose not to try due to the immense effort required to enhance writing, intellectual, and communication skills in a limited timeframe. We need to revolutionize the education sector to empower our children to excel in competitive exams. It’s a responsibility that extends beyond our nation. It is incumbent upon us, morally and ethically.
—The writer is CSS Officer, based in Sargodha.
Email: [email protected]
views expressed are writer’s own.
