Every now and again there are complaints from those appearing for various recruitment tests/job interviews about the unjust methods adopted by agencies of the state and central government departments. In a world where employment is shrinking while the number of people graduating out of colleges and universities is growing exponentially every year the ratio between jobs available and number of applicants is highly skewed. Even when the qualifications for available posts are well defined, there are applicants that are over-qualified. In a state where the private sector is far from developed and where no serious brainstorm has happened to craft out a roadmap for enterprise development in the last four decades, it is but natural that there will be a fight to the finish for any vacancies in the government and public sector units. Heartburns and anxieties are likely to spill over into the streets sooner than later. This is not a healthy development.
For those in the Government today it is a case of, “Uneasy is the head that wears the crown.” They have been elected to govern the state, which includes in the main, an imperative to create job opportunities for the large number of educated but unskilled graduates. For a long time elected representatives have served their own interests and entered politics to make a business out of the profession. Some run brisk private businesses and have created jobs for their kith and kin only. This practice will no longer be tolerated by the aspiring young generation that is watching with a critical eye at the manner in which politicians are manipulating the system for their selfish interests. Quite a number of youth today are well qualified for the job markets outside the state and have moved out to realise their aspirations. Others are not so fortunate and have had to be content with applying for jobs closer home. All they are asking for is a transparent recruitment process where they are judged on merit alone. It is disheartening for them to see a flawed or manipulated recruitment process where backdoor appointments are effected and where people with political clout are recruited even though they have not made the cut.
There is much talk about entrepreneurship development but that takes a skilling process that is rigorous and robust and a financial system that responds to their needs and is ready not just to fund their enterprise but to hand-hold them and provide continuous support in financial management practices. The banking sector does not have that capacity. There must be other agencies that fill the gaps. It is incumbent on the state government to find the ways and means to set this process in motion.
