Federal Public Service Commission of Pakistan has announced the result of written examination of Central Superior Services (CSS). According to FPSC, a total of 23,403 candidates applied for CSS examination. As many as 14,521 candidates appeared in the examination of them 372 cleared the written exam.
The passing rate touched its lowest level this year with a 2.56% percent compared to the preceding year’s passing rate standing at 4.79 percent, and 3.3% passing rate in 2017. Such a persistently low passing rate of CSS examinations has raised pertinent concerns on the evaluating mechanism followed by FPSC and the quality of the education system in Pakistan.
FPSC announces #CSS2019 written Exam Results:
Pass Percentage: 2.56%
Candidates Applied: 23, 403
Candidates Appeared: 14, 521
Candidates Passed: 372 #CSS2019 pic.twitter.com/ltRPtnVSPF
— Zahid Gishkori (@ZahidGishkori) October 11, 2019
A recent report issued by FIA claimed that the FPSC board introduced changes in the rules in 2013. As per the new rules, candidates were acquired to score 33% in optional subjects and 50% in compulsory subjects. Consequently, the passing ratio dropped and several seats were left vacant.
With the changes in CSS examination, the candidates were supposed to obtain 40 percent marks in compulsory subjects, and 33% percent marks in optional subjects with an overall percentage of 50%.
Read more: CSS aspirants will undergo screening test first before examination
According to the previous rules, the candidates were promoted to the interview stage, even if they failed to secure 33% in any of the optional subjects but had an overall percentage of 50% or above. This provision is discarded in the new setup, where the inability to secure less than 33% percent marks in any of the optional subjects is considered failed and deprives candidates of pursuing their selection process.
Several observers had supported the amendments of pulling up the passing criteria for CSS examination. However, they pointed out that the quality of education at the graduate and post-graduate level in Pakistan is mediocre and below the par, failing to produce smart, brainy and highly efficient potential candidates for the civil services of Pakistan and bureaucracy.
The #CSS2019 result is out! 97.5% failed again!! #CSS #FPSC https://t.co/gVRLGuq2Fq
— Parhlo (@parhlo) October 10, 2019
Moreover, the low monetary reward in the civil services of Pakistan at the initial level is another demotivating factor that deters the deserving graduates to enter the bureaucracy.
Hence, an overhaul up-gradation of Pakistan’s education system standing at par with international standards and ramping up monetary rewards in the civil services of Pakistan is anticipated to rope in the efficient candidates needed to uplift the standards of the bureaucracy of Pakistan.
Read more: The quality of ongoing CSS interviews
Now the current government has announced to introduce mandatory pre-screening tests for CSS aspirants before appearing for the written examination, further intensifying the selection process of civil servants. The government claims the introduced amendments are intended to extract the best of minds to revamp the bureaucratic structure of Pakistan.