THE matter of career progression of hundreds of thousands of staff working in public and civil services training academies and institutes across the country is critical. The National School of Public Policy (NSPP) trains senior public officials, while the Civil Services Academy (CSA) prepares fresh civil servants. The Secretariat Training Institute (STI) provides training to government employees, and the Pakistan Audit and Accounts Academy (PAAA) specialises in financial reporting and auditing. Similarly, the National Police Academy (NPA) trains newly recruited officers, while the Foreign Service Academy (FSA) prepares officers for the foreign service. In addition, judicial academies train judicial officers and other stake-holders of the justice system.

Those who receive training at these academies and institutes often go on to reach the highest levels of their careers. In contrast, the staff members who support instructors and senior management frequently face limited or no opportunities for career advancement. There appears to be no effective mechanism or authority dedicated to addressing their professional growth and career progression issues.

This stark disparity between the career advancement of trainees and that of the support staff, whose contributions are essential but often invisible, reflects a broader structural issue within many organisations in the country.

Indeed, it is a deeply unfair reality. The management boards of these academies and institutes should take meaningful steps to address the concerns of support staff, ensuring that they too are provided with fair opportunities for career growth, incentives and professional recognition comparable to those enjoyed by employees in most other public-sector organisations.

Tasleem Naz Abro
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2026