I REFER to a recent report about the poor attitudes of a few Public Service Commission (PSC) scholars, who place their personal interests above organisational interests.

PSC chairman Eddie Teo did highlight that there were only a few scholars with such attitudes and misplaced expectations.

However, this may suggest that the process for selecting scholars has to be fine-tuned.

Although the public is confident that the current selection process for government scholars is stringent, the fact that there are some scholars who do not desire to start at the bottom suggests that the system can be improved.

It is vital that shortlisted candidates are posed difficult questions during their interviews.

The panel of interviewers should put prospective scholars into real-life work situations.

The interviewers should also explain to candidates the rationale for postings to the ground level, which would help them better understand the expectations of the Government and the public for their future responsibilities.

Another suggestion for improving the system is to let shortlisted candidates go through one or two months' on-the-job training, or a simulation of actual appointments in ministries that scholars do not prefer.

This will allow the commission to assess the candidates' attitude and suitability for the scholarship.

After all, the scholars will be high fliers and the country is investing heavily in them, regardless of the type of scholarship they are offered.

PSC scholars are highly regarded as future leaders in the civil service. Hence, the public will naturally have high expectations for them.

Mr Teo Kueh Liang

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