The Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) will stop civil servants from pursuing Continuing Education (CE); Degree or Under Graduate programmes. The announcement comes barely a month since the new set of commissioners took over the office.
The RCSC describes the decision as ‘reforming the Bhutan civil service system’, to make it stronger based on meritocracy.
“…In this political set up if you have a lot of people doing CE and not getting through the Civil Service exam we will have a big group of people who will lobby with the politicians…” said RCSC’s Commissioner, Karma Hamu. She said the politicians in turn would pressurize the RCSC and that could undermine the very foundation of having meritocracy in Civil Service.
Continuing Education will be allowed only for Masters or Specialisation.
RCSC has also done away with training gaps and obligations.
“We are not giving any training obligations after you complete the IAS (Indian Administrative Service) course so the very next day you reach here and if you want to go for your masters, then you are free to go because training gap obligation is not kept,” said Commissioner, Kesang Deki.
She said RCSC recognises the importance of having IAS level. “Who does the IAS in India? They are the people who will be the future top leadership in India and our close contact with India requires that we also maintain this personal contact.”
Previously, Civil Servants who have been trained under 18 months IAS program had a training gap or obligation of 36 months.
In addition, RCSC will also allow Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration (PGDPA), who have completed their one year probation period in Civil Service, to apply for Masters.
The announcement was made during a consultative meeting in Samtse. The Consultative Meeting with Civil Servants is part of exercise to get views, feedback and recommendations on five broad streams the RCSC is working on to make Civil Service robust through reforms in the system. It includes the Position Classification System, Performance Management System and freezing decentralised recruitment and opening of Civil Servant Welfare scheme.
