Southwest University in the Chinese municipality of Chongqing is setting up a course that aims to help students excel in the country’s highly-competitive Public Service examination.
The move has provoked debate over whether such an academic program is fuelling the craze for public sector jobs in the wake of a youth unemployment crisis.
Southwest University said it was offering a one-year ‘micro-major’ for undergraduate students that includes subjects such as history, philosophy, psychology, and communication.
The university said the program was “built in alignment with the core knowledge needed in selecting Civil Servants and other administrative personnel specialising in public affairs.”
Official data shows that a record 1.5 million people sat for this year’s national Public Service examination, despite there being only 37,000 vacancies.
Southwest University’s new program led to discussions on social media.
While some users raised doubts over the program’s employment-oriented philosophy, others criticised the excessive worship of public sector jobs.
However, others praised the university for offering the tuition in competition to often highly expensive private tutoring agencies.
The move follows that taken by the Indian State of Tamil Nadu which is to implement a scheme to help Public Service aspirants access better coaching facilities and study material.
The State’s Skill Development Corporation said it would provide financial assistance to candidates during their preparation.
Minister for Finance, Palanivel Thiagarajan said the decision had been taken following a worrying decline in the number of students from Tamil Nadu clearing the highly prestigious examination.
As a part of the scheme, 1,000 candidates will be shortlisted through a screening test and will be provided with Rs7,500 ($A137) per month for 10 months.
Those who clear the preliminary examination will be provided with a lump sum amount of Rs25,000 ($A457).
Beijing, 23 March 2023
