Debate sparks on CSS exam for essay topic “Boys will be Boys”

On the first day of the 2023 Central Superior Services (CSS) test, the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) stirred a contentious discussion on social media by requesting students to prepare an essay on “boys will be boys.”

Over tens of thousands of students apply each year for the CSS exam, which is thought to be Pakistan’s most challenging exam. The test is regarded as an exclusive one, and individuals who take it spend months or even years studying for it since those who pass it are chosen for administrative positions in the federal government. The phrase “boys will be boys” has, however, caused a rift on the internet.

On the one hand, several applicants and the academic community believe the question was too trivial after spending countless hours studying. Others said the paper’s other topics and this one represented a much-needed departure from rote learning. The essay subjects elicited a variety of responses, including shock, humour, and — in some cases — outright wrath.