Screening
test for selection
Sir,
The
criterion of shortlisting evolved by the
J&K Public Service Commission and
Service Selection Board (SSB) has dashed
to the ground the hopes of the people who
managed to impart education to their
wards inspite of their meagre economic
resources. While evolving this criterion
the aforesaid authorities have
diametrically ignored the economic plight
of the people of J&K, settlement
geography, topography and climatic
condition of the State, efficiency of
education department, examination system
defects in evaluation of the papers etc.
The major
chunk of population of the State reside
in the remote hilly areas. The
inhabitants of these mountainous areas
derive their income mainly from
agriculture. The literacy as well as the
number of people in Government jobs are
very less. Majority of these areas are
not linked with District and Tehsil
Headquarters by means of roads and means
of transportation in these areas are
really pitiable. Notwithstanding lack of
necessary facilities and poor economic
conditions the parents somehow manage to
send their wards to schools, colleges and
universities situated at distant places
to seek higher education. The students
belonging to these far-flung hilly areas
also suffer a lot while climbing up and
climbing down for four to five hours
daily. They do all this even in the
adverse climatic conditions of the
region. These students can hardly pay a
few hours only to their studies. Whileas,
the students from urban areas and
affluent families enjoy the facilities
contributory to their studies like
tuition at homes, library, books etc.
These people get good guidance for their
parents, are well educated and therefore
remain successful. As regards the
efficiency of education department, it is
well known that the schools in the hilly
and rural areas are devoid of necessary
infrastructure and teaching staff. Most
of the teaching staff deputed in these
institutions belong to urban areas who
take little care for attending these
schools daily. There are number of
pockets in which the teachers very seldom
visit the schools, of course not for
teaching but merely for making their
attendance and preparing statements
necessary for drawing their salaries and,
therefore, render most of the schools
defunct.
In the
examination at all levels political and
monetary influence operate as a powerful
weapon that is to say affluent people
indulge in malpractice like copying etc.
and succeed in securing good marks.
Whereas the gullible students who on the
score of their destiny which placed them
on mountain tops and in low economic
standard with adverse climatic conditions
suffer a lot and hardly obtain 40 percent
to 50 percent marks, but of course by
dint of their own industry, work and
skill i.e. by not indulging in copying
and other malpractices.
Furthermore,
the tradition of copying in the
examination has marred the credibility of
exams and marks obtained therein.
As for as
the evaluation of answer sheets is
concerned, it is a matter of common
experience that the aggrieved students
get their marks enhanced in
re-evaluation. It means if someone for
the reason of his weak financial
background cannot afford revaluation fee
of the tune of Rs. 250/- per paper along
with other expenses he would suffer in
future for fault not of his.
Therefore,
it is concluded that this criterion of
shortlisting which is in operation for
more than four years is nothing but a
well hatched conspiracy against the poor.
It is
suggested that PSC and SSB should evolve
a mechanism like screening test so that
all the aspirants irrespective of the
percentage of the marks obtained in a
particular exam may find an opportunity
to prove their worth.
Yours
etc...
Javed Rana Hakla
Alla Pir, W.No. 7
Poonch City (J&K)
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