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The reaches of merit

The Punjab Chief Minister, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, never ceases to surprise everybody. From time to time he pulls a rabbit out of a hat  that goes a long way to show that while democracy may not be well in Pakistan, at least the concept is alive. In the final analysis, democracy is about institution building and accountability thereof. Despite rumours of an early demise, given the right environment for the parameters of democratic norms, the reaches of merit can be sustained.

On Sunday November 15, 1998 a unique event took place simultaneously in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi. Aspirants for Medical and Dental Colleges in the Punjab took part in an examination conducted by the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, 5,425 at Lahore, 2,391 at Rawalpindi and 2,004 at Multan, a total of 9,820 aspirants. According to a rough result approximately 7,000 passed the examination and will be eligible for the 2,500 seats available. According to the weightage procedure 60% marks have been allotted for the F.Sc. examination results and 40% for the merit examination. Obviously there were discrepancies, in one case a first position holder in Multan could not even qualify the test. Those taking ‘O’ Level examination had a distinct advantage but on the whole this exercise gives hope that admission to the colleges and universities will be made mostly on the basis of merit. The merit examination was Quiz- type with 180 questions in four subjects viz. Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English. 30 minutes were given to attempt 45 questions in each subject i.e. approximately 40 seconds to answer. For every four mistakes one mark was to be deducted from the total. This negative marking had the effect of forcing the students to think again before attempting to guess the question. Only those who had upto 60% marks in F.Sc. were allowed to take the examination. A record was created when one student got minus 13 marks which only goes to show the measure of the quality of his/her education and how his/her 60% marks had been achieved in F.Sc. It is a well-known fact in Pakistan that examination papers are mostly leaked out much before the examinations and large scale cheating takes place which is protected by the vested interests. This makes a mockery of the whole system. Merit examinations may not entirely eliminate the entry of the “Sifarishi” students who cheat their way into colleges and universities but will certainly act as a check and balance to ensure that merit has some place in the future, for the moment in at least the medical profession. Not only is this good news for the health of the populace, it is good news for the health of the nation. To hold these examinations IBA were paid fees, they deserved much more than what was given to them. One hopes that this process will be institutionalised for entry into each and every college and university of the country so that the evil of nepotism and favouritism overwhelming merit will be totally eradicated in the future. Mian Shahbaz Sharif has set a trend which is both commendable and deserving of full-throated support, at least in the present environment of nepotism and favouritism. The Chief Minister is proving to be a hands-on manager who is result-oriented, that he can do this without being subjected to different pressures is by itself remarkable. Will his abilities rub off in Islamabad? But then it helps to be the PM’s brother, or is the PM lucky that Shahbaz is his brother?

People may think that this merit examination was simply a publicity gimmick and an exercise in futility, that eventually the practice of having merit examinations will be “corrected”. On the contrary I think that a symbolic step has been taken to bring merit back to the pedestal where it belongs and it cannot be reversed except if we have morons in our leadership. Given our luck lately that is quite possible. The examination for entry into Armed Forces and Civil Service Academy were considered without taint, their selection process being by far the most fair. What was really sad was the fact that our young generation had got used to the idea that they could get into college and university as a stepping stone to various cadres without having to study or be educated. This is specially frustrating for the hardworking, brilliant and poor students. Intelligent hardworking people full of potential rarely have a chance to make their way to the top. The quality of professionalism has commensurately gone down over the last few decades as functional illiterates, incapable of drafting even a sentence, were elevated to top positions. Obviously those who are benefited by the system and can buy the question papers and/or influence their way to whatever sinecure they desire, will certainly not be happy with exams on merit. Hardworking students from less affluent families who do not have a chance more often than not give vent to their frustration in criminal pursuits, thus are the seeds of anarchy were sown, at the threshold level of information absorption and character building. Over a period of time this frustration hardens into resentment and spills out into the streets, mainly due to shortage of employment. For us the most important thing is to bring in merit and accountability at the grassroots level of our society i.e. transition from school to higher education. By invoking a merit-oriented examination. Mian Shahbaz Sharif’s Government has set a model for the future. This precedent can be emulated through the broad spectrum of our society, some tend to say that this was just a flash in the pan and “one swallow does not a spring make”. This initiative of Mian Shahbaz Sharif may just peter out as a simple publicity ploy unless he puts into place institutions to support the process. The Chief Minister has shown real (and sincere) purpose in trying to better the quality of life in the Punjab Province. The IBA-conducted examination has given competition a life of its own and brought integrity back to the examination process.

On the national level one hopes that Mian Shahbaz Sharif’s initiative will certainly encourage his elder brother’s Federal Government (and the other Provinces) to emulate what is being done in Punjab. One may suggest that in the imposition of Governor’s Rule in Sindh, the Federal Government has shown resolve in not allowing motivated forces from side-tracking the real issues. On the same scale the Federal Government can do more through the broad spectrum of administration and governance on the basis of merit rather than political expediency. This is specially so in choosing the right people for the right jobs, based on merit rather than cronyism. And once they have been so chosen, to let them get on with it. For example a good number of Bankers who had lucrative jobs abroad acquired on the basis of merit and against the odds came back selflessly to help Pakistan steer a difficult course through an economic minefield but as a lot, their merit has now become suspect. The unceremonious exit of Mr. Moinuddin Khan, former Chairman CBR, has been a very bad example for those expatriates who want to do their patriotic duty and serve the country. When their sacrifice is being so questioned, will they like to continue serving in a place where merit has no value?

The success of the Punjab initiatives can be gauged from who is trying to orchestrate the opposition and that itself leads us to some startling conclusions. Unless we breakaway from such shackles and go the merit route honestly we are doomed.

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