Postgraduates line up at test centres for Class-4 railway job

In a sad comment on the education system in the country and a reflection on the mad preference for a government job, and that too with the Centre, of the more than 12,000 candidates who appeared for the exam conducted to fill 1,500 Group D (Class-4) posts in the Ferozepur railway division on Sunday, many had postgraduate degrees like MA, MSc and had even trained to become teachers, when the minimum eligibility was a matric or Class-10 pass.

The Ferozepur division of the Northern Railway had conducted the test, being held in five phases.

When HT questioned these applicants on the mismatch between qualification and the lowly nature of the job (Class 4), most claimed that private companies paid a pittance, compared to salaries in the government and job security was also better.

Honey Chaudhary, a MA-BEd, who appeared at Ramgarhia School said, “I don’t care if it is Class-4 job, what matters is that it is a Central government job. The salary in private jobs is meager compared to government jobs.”

Yogesh, a BCom student, said, “I can secure my future with this job and then can keep on trying for other jobs. It is immaterial if the eligibility is Class 10.”

Resentment builds up

However, this trend has Classes 10 and 12 pass students fuming. “There should also be a highest qualification limit for these jobs. How can a Class-10 pass compete with a Msc pass in the same exam. Some solution is needed to prevent this from happening again,” said another aspirant.

Explaining the official stance, Ferozepur division assistant divisional railway manager (ADRM) Mahavir Singh said, “Nearly 1.5 lakh applicants registered for the exam, to be conducted in five phases till November 30. The number of applicants is huge compared to vacancies. There are only 8,000 posts in Northern Railways, with the Ferozepur division offering 1,500 vacancies.