IN Pakistan, the quest for success in the Central Superior Services (CSS) exam has lured many bright students away from higher education. This rigorous and competitive examination, a gateway to prestigious government positions, often wastes years of students’ lives.

While CSS offers a stable career path, it inadvertently discourages academic research. Constant focus on rote learning inhibits the pursuit of higher education, hampering intellectual development. Encouraging a balanced approach that values both CSS and higher education can empower Pakistani students to broaden their horizons and contribute to the progress of the nation.

As things stand, many do even graduate-level studies so that they may qualify to apply for the CSS examination, as government service offers job security. Hyperinflation and unemployment even for the qualified have compelled the young to do whatever they can to ride on the CSS bandwagon.

There should be incentives for those pursuing research-oriented programmes instead of rote-learning for CSS exam and wasting the best years of their lives.

Muhammad Rashid Bhanbhro
Umerkot

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2023