Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Civil Services Academy set up by the state government here in 2005 has done wonders in preparing candidates for the tough examinations. The government was prompted to establish such an academy after the Kerala students performed dismally in 2003 and 2004 when none from the state qualified for the services.
The idea was mooted by retired senior civil servant Babu Paul and the then higher education secretary K. Mohandas. The government offered an adoption scheme through the academy from 2006, said KSCSA director G.S. Girish Kumar. The academy produced good results with eight candidates qualifying in 2005. A total of 350 students from the academy have qualified for the civil services during the 11 years of its existence, Mr Kumar said.
The following year, the number of candidates qualified increased to 11, including six top 100 rankers. They included N. Prasanth who was ranked four, R. Vyasan (six) and Anish Rajan (seven). The state government adopted candidates from Kerala who cleared the preliminary examinations through the scheme.
They get free coaching for the main examinations besides being equipped to face the interview. For this, they face mock interview sessions handled by senior bureaucrats and get psychology training by practising psychologists.
The academy has extended its facilities to other regions by starting centres in Palakkad and Kozhikode, Ponnani, Chenganur, Aloor in Thrissur district and Muvattuppuzha.
Other incentives given to the students include conveyance charge for attending the interview besides free lodging at Kerala House, Delhi. The panel of visiting lecturers, including former bureaucrats, has made a significant difference to the training. Regular classes are taken by both retired and serving senior teachers of reputed colleges like University College. This kind of training makes the aspirants mentally tough and help them face any situation.
An important programme of the academy is a talent development course for high school students aimed at catching them young. There is also a civil service foundation course for Plus-One, Plus-Two and first-year degree students. The syllabus-oriented training is for second and third- year degree and first- year PG students enabling them to sit for the examination soon after they pass out of college.
