Only 10% passed RP civil service exams

Only eleven of the 113 Filipino workers in the Northern Marianas who took the Philippines Civil Service Examination for professionals that was administered on Saipan last month by the Consulate hurdled the 80 percent passing mark.

The figure represents only about 10 percent of the total examinees on the islands, whose average age level is 30 years old, according to Philippine Consul Julia C. Heidemann.

At the same time, only 23 percent of Filipino workers in the Northern Marianas who took the civil service examinations for sub-professionals, which would have given them the eligibility to work in the Philippine government, passed the test.

While the figure appears higher than the professional level, Ms. Heidemann explained that this is translated to only seven passers out of 30 sub-professional examinees.

“It was difficult because they have upgraded their passing mark from 75 percent to 80 percent and that most of the questions were on current events. Majority of those who took the test have been here for years, maybe it is one of the factors that triggered the low turnout of passers,” she said.

She added that a bigger number of those who have taken the civil service examination have been out of college for over 10 years which made it more difficult for them to catch up with the set of questions in the test.

This, even as the Philippine Consulate offered a three-day review course prior to the examination date to provide the examinees some pointers on what might be asked in the civil service test.

“But our refresher course was mostly focused at giving tips on how to take the examination, how to fill up forms and basically some lectures on grammar, vocabulary and mathematics,” Ms. Heidemann said.

She stressed that those who failed to make it in the last examination may still get the test at the Manila office of the Philippine Civil Service Commission anytime as walk-in examinees.

The consul disclosed Ethel Dayrit, who garnered an average score of 85.14 percent topped the examination for professionals, while Gerlyn Rafon ranked number one in the sub-professional category with an 87.32-percent mark. Saipan Tribune reporter Marian Rose A. Maraya also passed the civil service examination.

Saipan, aside from Malaysia and Singapore, is one of the three areas in the Asia-Pacific Region that was considered by the Philippine Civil Service Commission for the overseas holding of the career service examination.

The sub-professional level was given to those who have at least 72 units in college while the professional level was given to applicants who are degree holders, or have completed four-year courses.

The examination covered areas that include vocabulary, grammar and correct usage, paragraph organization, reading comprehension, analogy, logic, and numerical reasoning, as well as clerical operations for sub professional level.

Both professional and sub professional levels of the examination had questions on general information on areas like Philippine Constitution, , Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, peace and human rights issues and concepts, and environment management and protection.

At the same time, the Philippine Consulate announced that examinees residing on Saipan may now claim their report of rating or certificate of eligibility at the consular office while notices of examinees from Rota and Tinian will be mailed out.