FPSC report highlights poor education standards, ridiculous answers by candidates. PHOTO: FILE
While it is not as if those who succeeded in the last decade or so are doing any better, the aspirants of the civil services in the latest examinations have sunk even lower in terms of quality of their answers. And as a result, a whopping 97 per cent failed but not without amusing the examiners with their answers.
A soon-to- be- released annual report on the Central Superior Services (CSS) exams by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) for 2013 is a poignant comment on the deteriorating quality of education in the country.
There are some interesting observations by the examiners who conducted the written part of the 2013 CSS examinations, a source familiar with the report said requesting anonymity.
“Education is dealt with as a commodity,” said an examiner adding that “education has become a corporate product. More than 97 per cent candidates failed in the written examination.”
The commission will submit the report to President Mamnoon Hussain and to the parliament before making it public.
According to the report 10,400 candidates out of a total of 11,400, have failed in the essay writing, 8,500 in current affairs and 7,500 in the English language paper. A total of 6,000 were unsuccessful in general knowledge (Pakistan Affairs) and 5,200 in everyday science.
According to some examiners, the performance of the majority of the candidates in English writing and expression was shocking. The examiner was of the view that candidates relied on stereotypical substandard materials available in the market instead of using their own mind and intelligence for an innovative approach.
They have demonstrated flaws both in comprehension and expression.
The second subject which exposed the skill of 7,500 candidates was English (Precis and Composition). The aspirants lacked clear thinking, critical analysis and orderly construction. They were unaware of what precise is and how it is structured. Several candidates simply reproduced the text. The overall standard of grammar produced by the candidates was very poor.
In General Knowledge, performance of 98 per cent was unsatisfactory whereas about 6,000 candidates failed in Pakistan Affairs. They could not grasp the questions. Spellings were horrible.
Many candidates gave funny replies to questions pertaining to Islamic jurisprudence.
While writing reply to a question many candidates answered ‘Al-Ahliyyah’ means wife whereas it means legal capacity of a person.
Likewise several candidates in their answers wrote “it was decided by Ijma in the life of Holy Prophet (PBUH).”
A lot of candidates said that “The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has permitted in the Holy Quran” while the answer should have said Allah had permitted it in the Quran.
The results are a sad reflection of our fast declining education standard, admitted a highly placed source in the Higher Education Commission (HEC) requesting anonymity.
The report has criticised the public and private sector universities for the alarming decline in the educational standard and blamed the HEC for the entire situation.
“The HEC despite spending billion of rupees on education has failed to regulate the universities, said a former vice-chancellor of the Quaid-i-Azam University who wished to not to be named.
Next year’s CSS result could be even more terrible if the HEC does not play its role in reversing the rot, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2014.
COMMENTS (27)
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Rubbish! FPSC has made CSS a lucky draw instead of a competitive exam. Why throw all the smug on HEC? People who appeared/are appearing in CSS, know fully how "scoring trends" play most important part in CSS. Candidates are exhausted in subject selection, aiming to opt high scoring subjects. Every year some subjects are crashed deliberately. In 2012, it was English Precis and Composition, this year it was Essay, Pakistan Affairs and many others in optional subjects. The scoring trend in 2013 has ruined the hopes and spirits of the candidates who are planing to appear in 2014 again. Since, FPSC declared 2013 result after the cut off date for the application forms for CE 2014. Many people wrote applications to FPSC asking if there is still any chances that they can change their subjects, owing to FPSC's announcement on their web in negative. Please,even statistically 2.09% pass rate is so insignificant. Rather than pointing fingers at candidates, consider that something fishy might be going on in the organization itself. Please, thoroughly research the issue before you write and post such baseless and stereotypical columns.
Its too much Confusing Situation in all over the Pakistan... I don't think so that it could be better soon as it can be seen from recent result, there is no proper Standard of Education, teachers convey very rare Information and many Students do not keen about their Studies.. So HEC should adhere on this situation seriously!!
The report is biased and written under the directions of FPSC. FPSC has lost its credibility after Faisalabad fiasco.
@Abdul Qayoom please go and do your research on css forum
There is a simple technique in scoring high in areas of Islamiat. Take it in english and read book what top scorers have always read. It is "Religion of Islam" by Maulana Muhammad Ali. This book has received authetication and accolades from Al Azhar Univ. Cairo Egypt. It is also being taught in top USA universities like Univ of California Berkley. It is available online at amazon and www.aaiil.org the later is Lahori Ahmadi site--not Qadiani.
I think people who believe they could bring a positive change should aspire for the civil services. One should not appease himself by thinking that had he made it to the Civil services, he too would have been corrupt and useless. one should rather clear the exam, become a part of the system and rectify whatever he can in his capacity.
great efforts by checkers
This report reflects true nature of our whole education system. I'd like to give one example. Here in UK, in our university lectures, we never followed a book. Every single day, lecturer use to bring latest news articles from leading news paper or any research paper related to the topic and we used to discuss it in detail. Can we imagine this approach in Pakistan? I don't think so !!
In Pakistan , the system of education is indeed showing horrible picture of our system . It shows that our government has failed to achieve the main objective ,which can alter the whole picture of Pakistan like education . Still , in Pakistan , the number of crisis are prevailing , which no-doubt will not be cleared by this government . So , how can we expect that the education system can be improved . In addition to , CSS is one of the most merit base exam system in Pakistan , where only the able candidate can achieve his goal . Except CSS , there is no merit even in Provincial Public Service Commission Examinations . Here , we appeal to the concerned authorities to ensure the merit in Provincial and to restructure the education system especially in Sindh .
no doubt material are from cram series and notes available. lack of interpretative the question leads to the authentic answers. most of candidates do not think how to write answers. i have heard that those who were position holders last year and they tried for 2013, they failed.... no worries, just chill man :) try to concentrate on basic things and clear vision. guidance is necessary but until you do not have knowledge of basic things and creative mind you should not go for this other wise you will be bursting like all aspirants who failed in recent past result...
in most of the public sector universities, one of the big problems is the student wing of political parties... Government should ban the political activities of these student parties otherwise prepare for the worst next year.
@Proud Amer: Arabic fluency is not required and is not mandatory but if you opt to take it up as a subject, you need to have knowledge about it
Did it ever occur to FPSC that CSS as an exam has failed to keep up with the world norms for educational testing? When rest of the world is valuing thoughts and research FPSC is guaging how good a student's memory is. Kitna zabardast ratta marta ha. FPSC should start to look seriously upon its own shortcomings.
i think this a terrible for all pakistani and specially for the HEC , well there ate many ups and downs in the studies but i must say still so terrible hope the ratio of the fail to pass candidate may increase :)
Some MCQs in every test, every paper, are extremely confusing, especially when asked for specific dates. Most of the dates aren't that specific, and the ones that are, many authors disagree on it.
Only 1006 appeared out of 14335 candidates in 2012? :O
that is very tough checking.. and i like this very much :) actually here most of aspirant think that css is as simple as it was in recent past. whenever aspirants are increasing in number, the checkers are checking even tougher........ and yeah really student depend on crams and other material available in markets. none of personal ideas lead to success... well done this time :)
loads of rubbish these reports are.It is simply up to discretion of an examiner to fail or pass a candidate. particularly the English essay is vulnerable subject..How is it possible that candidates who were in top 50s in CSS 2012 failed to even clear the written CSS 2013 exam ?luck factor counts here.If you are secular person where as if the checker is right winger then your are doomed to fail in english essay
Tribune, There appears to be mistake in the CSS results 2012 column. Second row, candidates appeared. It should be "10006" and not 1006. Please correct it.
I am sorry but from these 2 examples, it appears as if we are talking anout Jamia Banoria entrance exams rather than CSS. What a joke CSS been made! Whats the need of Arabic fluency for their job?
Why blame HEC when HEC itself is under the gallows. It is the whole education system of the country that is pathetic, we are taught to memorize chapters from our early education life. Most of the students who appear for CSS come from public universities where this memorizing system still prevails.
So what you sow is what you reap, it is high time we let students work their brains and start thinking.