CSS English composition paper 2016  

Letter October 17, 2016
This unfair approach of the Commission has sent a wave of resentment and unrest among aspiring candidates

HYDERABAD: In recent years, the Central Superior Services (CSS) policy of a hostile marking approach and change of syllabus by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) have been criticised by candidates. This year, too, the Commission made some changes in the CSS examination format and introduced a new schedule for all compulsory and optional papers according to a revised syllabus. Candidates, therefore, prepared accordingly. It is a matter of grave concern that the English precis and composition paper was not according to the new syllabus and secondly, instead of adopting a fair marking approach, a harsh marking policy was used. This eliminated outstanding and talented candidates, who otherwise secured some of the highest marks in other subjects.

The most deserving candidates should not be punished for the mismanagement and failure of the FPSC for not administering the composition paper as per their own prescribed syllabus. My daughter’s 736 marks is a remarkable achievement in the written portion but she did not pass the composition paper by eight marks. Had she passed this paper, she would have contested for any position in the final results. This unfair approach of the Commission has sent a wave of resentment and unrest among aspiring candidates. I, therefore, request the chairman of the FPSC to look into the matter sympathetically and score the 2016 English composition paper again.

Liaquat Ali Sheikh

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18th, 2016.

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