The Civil Service Commission is an autonomous constitutional body established under the Philippine Constitution. This means that it operates within the purview and tasks mandated for it to function as a separate public entity, away from the influence of top government officials in so far as policy decisions affecting appointments, promotions and the audit of government personnel’s qualifications.
If my memory serves me right, there was a time when the CSC is allowing government personnel to take the professional career service examination even if they have not graduated in college, provided the examinee has logged in at least two years of college education and five years of continuous government service at the time the CSC test is administered. Then, there was also the merit or testimonial system, wherein those who flunked the civil service examination may opt to earn a second-grade eligibility for as long as he has rendered seven years of continuous work in the public service.
As of late, these alternatives are no longer in sight as the Commission has introduced reforms, wherein one of its objectives is to professionalize the civil service. There is no question about that. But the point is that there’s a lot of undergraduate but experienced government workers who are much learned than those graduates currently holding top positions in government. The only stumbling block that prevents them from getting promotions is that they have not finished their college education owing to some financial problems or that others may have raised families at once so that pursuing their college education had been impossible.
In view of this development, perhaps, the CSC body may opt to re-strengthen its system of giving new opportunities to these workers to once and for all improve their lot by getting the much-needed boost so that they can be promoted to the post they are aspiring for.
In the absence of a degree, perhaps, the civil service officials may instead craft a policy that will offset these deficiencies through a merit system of eximplary accomplishments, efficiency and good behavior at the work sites. Likewise, they should be given the chance to pursue their college education through a government-sponsored scholarship or reward those who have worked at least for ten years to be allowed to pass a ladderized college degree, in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education. This can be done either through online education or on-campus attendance, depending on the convenience and affordability of the concerned government worker.
In this way, the CSC will be doing more than what it has been envisioned to do by allowing public servants to make full use of their potentials while still in the government service. This is not only important to their personal lives but also will contribute a great deal for the enchancement of the civil service and the betterment of the society in general.
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