FPSC report itself is replete with the same errors of English that the examiners claim to have found with students
SUKKUR: For the first time, this year, the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has issued the Examiner’s Report for the Central Superior Services (CSS) exam. The publication of the report is, indeed, a welcome move. The report identifies the areas that usually happen to be an Achilles Heel for students taking the exam. Among others, the use of poor English, specifically syntax errors, grammatical mistakes and lack of coherence and unity are identified to be the main reasons for either the failure or under-achievement of students on the CSS exam. The report will surely go a long way in helping students improve effectively in their weak areas.
The intention of the FPSC, beyond publishing this report, is unquestionable. Regarding FPSC’s action, it is very dismal and pitiable. The report mentions the falling standard of education in general and of English language in particular. What I feel really sorry for is that the report itself is replete with the same errors of English that the examiners claim to have found with students. The FPSC should have at least sifted the report for errors once. Now that they haven’t, I wonder what message it would bear, especially for CSS aspirants. The paradoxical report, I fear, could become an object of ridicule instead of serving its primary purpose.
Nadeem Akhtar Khoso
Published in The Express Tribune, December 28th, 2016.
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