New institution to streamline public service placements in offing

The Public Service Commission has unveiled a plan to establish an institution to prepare exams for individuals competing for public service employment. The move follows the probe carried out by the commission that unearthed unfairness and bribery.

This survey conducted on appointments to the Public Service Commission identified three main categories of corruption among public institutions.

Among 680 job applicants with whom the Public Service Commission conducted research in 2014/2015, 40% confirm that sex-related bribery comes on top, 39% cash related bribery while 19% pointed out nepotism.

Another weakness observed is that of some supervisors being with qualifications different from the job requirements at hand.

During a senatorial sitting of social welfare, Senator Narcisse Musabeyezu stressed the need to organize examinations to eliminate those who were employed in public services without completing all requirements since it enhances incompetent workers who jeopardize public services.

“We have to think about getting qualified employees through exams to avoid nepotism that breeds poor service delivery,” he advised.

The Public Service Commission says that the expected institution will help to address various complaints and challenges raised over.

“What the institution can help is that exams may be done immediately at the end of studies to identify whether someone qualifies for accountancy position and other jobs which don’t require experience and then wait until for an opportunity is available,” said the head of public service commission, Francois Habiyakare.

“If this process is well implemented, no one would think about any form of bribery looking for a job since the exam will have been done before availability of a particular job,” he added.

Habiyakare says that doing exams before job announcements will reduce on the expenses during the process of recruiting public service employees and tackle the delay of refilling vacant positions.

The public service commission and other stakeholders have not yet revealed the time this institution in charge of preparing job entry exams will be launched.