INQUIRER file photo
MANILA, Philippines — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) will launch a digitized civil service exam before the end of this year.
The system will allow examinees to use their own laptops to take the test in CSC-designated centers.
CSC Commissioner Aileen Lizada made the announcement on Thursday during the Senate committee on finance deliberations on the agency’s proposed budget for 2025.
According to Lizada, the program called the Civil Service Digitized Examinations (CSDEx) will allow examinees to bring their laptops to any CSC-designated centers “to take the exams anywhere in the Philippines.”
“We will be launching soon before the year ends,” revealed Lizada.
The CSDEx will then effectively replace the CSC’s computerized exams.
“We will be doing this to pave the way so that wala na tayong (there will be no more) computerized exams, but the expanded CSdex will be taking that place,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lizada said the traditional pen and paper mode of exams will be maintained for areas with poor internet signal or connectivity.
OFWs to be given priority slots
To address the issue of overseas Filipinos (OFWs) not being able to take the civil service exam, Lizada said they will be provided priority slots should they wish to take the exam through CSDEx when they are in the country.
“We will give them priority slots should they wish to take the exams under CSDEx,” said Lizada.
She explained that while the CSC can administer the exams overseas, the cost is “prohibitive” based on the actual number of OFWs taking the exams.
Due to this, Lizada said the CSC is also studying the possibility of holding the exams during the Christmas season or when many OFWs return home.
“So it was discussed during the previous Commission, ‘What if we had examinations during Christmas time?” she said.
This question came about after Senator Risa Hontiveros mentioned that there are Filipinos in Doha, Qatar who are considering taking the civil service exams, but couldn’t do so, due to their location.
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