THERE is a big issue here. Over the last few years, several academies have popped up across the country claiming to prepare candidates for the civil service exams — the passing percentage of which has seen a sharp decrease.

The passing percentage in 2007 was 15 per cent which is now down to 3.6pc. Thus, they (the academies) have added nothing new and are providing candidates with exhausting material for various subjects and emphasising on ‘cramming’.

Annual reports of the Federal Public Service Commission have highlighted issues such as poor English and irrelevant material being taught at different academies. Moreover, the great loss on the part of the academies is that the CSS candidates cannot develop their own critical thinking which mainly comes from self-study.

These approaches definitely helped students achieve their goals. However, these academies’ fees have created competition; simultaneously they are creating a sense of inferiority for the underprivileged CSS aspirants who cannot afford these academies.

Government institutions must take sufficient measures to limit the growing number of CSS academies and promote a standard education system which focuses on evolving critical thinking among students.

Syed Waqar Hussain
Larkana

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2019