Over two years later, when just three of the 3700 applicants for the Junior Officer Scale (JSO) post have cleared the preliminary and computer based recruitment test conducted by the Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC) and made it for the final interview, it hardly raises an eyebrow. Is this because Goa has resigned itself to the fact that its youth are not cut out for competitive exams? Few Goans have done well at the UPSC exams, but youth performing so badly at the GPSC exam for civil service posts is a matter of deep concern.
This, however, is not the first experience of the GPSC with low success rate for the junior scale officer posts. In 2017, five of over 1000 candidates had passed the computer based recruitment test and only one had cleared the final interview round. But this appears to be a phenomenon restricted to the JSO posts. According to the GPSC, it has noticed an improvement in the performance of candidates to posts other than that of the junior scale officer and is studying this in detail, which, based on its finding, it will review the examination process. The question is whether there is need of a review of the selection process or is there a matter with the education system.
To look at the first, the fact is that we cannot do away with competitive exams for recruitment in government service. If the State wants the best of talent that it can get and it wants a fair and transparent system, which leaves little scope for corrupt practices, then the only option is the competitive examination. Goa has time and again in the past – distant and near – seen how direct intake in government departments has led to selective recruitment of candidates from a certain MLA’s constituency. With that respect, the government that is considering skipping the Staff Selection Commission for some of the new 10,000 vacancies that it will advertise in the New Year does not bode well for talented candidate.
Now to the second, of the quality of education. As educationists point out, the poor performance is a direct reflection on the quality of education in the State. Are the various colleges and the lone university in the State preparing students to get competitive, or are they just doling out facts from textbooks that students are expected to memorise and spill out on answer books at the examinations? The latter is more likely, and this just does not give students the competitive edge that is required to perform in the real world. Our education system does not award excellence, it instead gives credit and points to the ability of a student to memorise. Appreciate the fact that competitive exams give a huge score to reasoning ability, which our education system does not focus on.
Yet, we can’t blame only the education system. Here, students must also put in that extra effort that gives them the chance to be among the top. As has been suggested, candidates to the recruitment test have to prepare thoroughly and it is they who have to raise their standard. It cannot be the task of the GPSC to lower the standard of the test. If Goa’s youth aspire to get recruited to high government posts, then they should also show that they deserve to be there. And the way to do it, is preparing and clearing the long recruitment process. Finally, only the best and most committed will achieve it.
