Reforming Bangladesh Civil Service: Student Perception on Recruitment Effectiveness

Abstract

The recruitment process of the Bangladesh Civil Service is a highly competitive and multi-stage examination system to recruit merit-based candidates for public administrative services. This research aims to evaluate university students' perceptions of the effectiveness of the Bangladesh civil service recruitment process, specifically addressing fairness, transparency, and trust. This study employed a mixed-methods approach to evaluate perceptions among university students. The simple random selection of 380 respondents provided quantitative data by use of a survey questionnaire. Qualitative data were obtained through 5 key informant interviews (KIIs) and in-depth interviews with 20 participants, including BCS exam participants and students. Quantitative data were analysed with SPSS version 25, using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. The results show that, although opinions are generally quite positive, significant disparities still exist. BCS aspirants were strongly supportive of the idea of making marks public (p < .01), and students were concerned about the mismatch between the content of tests and job relevance (p = .030). The degree of trust depended on the institution type and the region, particularly on the fairness of the viva voice and the publication timeline of the results. Future BCS reform should focus on making marks public, minimising the bias of viva voce, ensuring test content is relevant to fundamental job skills, and ensuring the availability of a complaints process. These steps are crucial in establishing trust and achieving meritocratic outcomes.

+ View Full Abstract