THIS refers to the news ‘Screening test for CSS exam to be held in February’ (Nov 5). Within hours of the announcement, all unregulated so-called ‘academies’ that prepare students for CSS examination started offering courses for the screening test without knowing what the exact syllabus is. Making matters worse, the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has not said a word about the syllabus or the examination date. What is adding to the misery of the aspirants is that the authority is still silent about the changes made in the process. The academies, however, are actively holding screening test preparatory courses, charging anything from Rs1,000 to Rs30,000; the fee varying according to the ‘reputation’ of the academy.

The FPSC never recommends any academies or training centres for the preparation of CSS examination. There-fore, one wonders why the focus of the aspirants has shifted from the recommen-ded books to academies. This has led to unnecessary financial burden on many aspirants because it is believed that if one does not join an ‘academy’, one is surely not going to qualify the examination.

Interestingly, and importantly, the majority of these academies are being run by bureaucrats themselves. Why does not the government bar these ‘academies’ from getting involved in such an activity?

These ‘academies’ actively encourage people to spread the word around that those who do not become part of the bureaucracy will have to crawl their way through life. Such statements create an immense impact on impressionable minds. In desperation, they join one ‘academy’ or the other. And so the business continues.

Once the Covid pandemic set in, the mode changed from physical classes to online arrangements, and from the academies to individual tutors. These tutors are also holding online classes from their homes without any proportionate reduction in charges. It is clear that these tutors are evading taxes. Has the government done anything in this regard?

Nishwah Tahir
Pakpattan

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2021