The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Most university graduates are not happy with the screening exams conducted by the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) because they feel it is a burden for them to sit for the preliminary exams (PE) before sitting for the Bhutan Civil Service Exams (BCSE). “For the PE, we have to study even Maths and data interpretation, which are the subjects we were totally out of touch with while in college,” said Tashi Yangzom, a BA graduate who dropped Maths since high school.
However, according to Dorji Tshering, chief human resource officer in RCSC, the screening tests are meant to test the minimum standard of a person before recruiting him/her in the civil service. “The panel of interviewers of the BCSE viva voce found the exams more manageable after the screening test was introduced,” said Dorji Thinley, adding that the evaluation of papers became easier, too.The same procedure applies to teacher trainees of Samtse and Paro College of Education. The BCSE for B.Ed pass outs is conducted after they complete four years of training in the colleges. “Teachers also have to look out for their own jobs if they disqualify in the screening exams,” said Dorji Thinley.
However, not a single teacher has been recorded to be screened out in the last two years, since the introduction of the exams.Sangay Passang, a teacher trainee at the Samtse College of Education says that in fact the screening exams will be more effective in the future when there are excessive school teachers. “Today, teacher shortage is a the major problem the government is facing, so screening exam is just a name. No teachers were screened till now,” he said. However, there are graduates who feel PE is hampering them while preparing for the main exams. “Initially, we saw our seniors preparing for the RCSE back in college but we have to spend time for the PE,” said Tshering Nidup, a BA graduate from Sherubtse College.
Another graduate from Sherubtse College said the opportunity to sit for the civil service exam occurs just once in a lifetime and nobody should be deprived of it. “We are considered to be the cream of the country but the preliminary exam leaves us as the residue,” she said.
