According to Department of State Services officials, at least eight colleagues died in difficult conditions during a recent promotion exam. They attribute the deaths to stress and a lack of support.
They reported the officers had to pay their own travel and accommodation costs to attend the exam. In addition, they received no allowances from the agency. This caused hardship and anxiety which resulted in some officers collapsing or falling ill. Tragically, eight officers lost their lives.
The personnel accused DSS leadership of overseeing a fundamentally flawed promotion process. They allege that the exam questions were set and marked by individuals who did not possess the requisite qualifications to do so. Furthermore, they claim the pass rate is unusually low, increasing their dissatisfaction.
The reported pass rates are as follows:
CSIO to ADIS: 44.4%
PSIO to CSIO: 45.0%
SSIO to PSIO: 74.5%
SIO I to SSIO: 45.2%
SIO II to SIO I: 38.2%
SO to SIO II: 56.6%
ASO to SO: 31.6%
CD to ASO: 23.0%
DI to CD: 31.3%
DII to DI: 45.5%
The personnel also feel the poor results demonstrate incompetence and the process does not follow (or is absent) due process. They asked the agency to acknowledge the unprofessionalism and betrayal of committed personnel demonstrated by the treatment.
They also requested that the agency carry out an immediate review of the system, since it should enhance officers’ participation and not risk their health.
Additionally, they further highlight some inherent structural problems in the DSS which, if not rectified, could lead to further erosion of trust in the service , as well as confidence in its critical mission.
Management in the service must now address those reported issues and adjust or modify the promotion process, or risk a loss of trust and confidence from its officers.
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