Civil service exams need to be changed

China's national civil service exams are the most difficult but their recruitment procedures are relatively sound. But the same cannot be said about the lower-level civil service exams, says an article in Shanghai Business Daily. Excerpts:

Last Sunday, a record 1 million people took the annual national civil service exams across the country for 15,000 posts in government departments and agencies. Some of the single vacant posts even attracted more than 4,000 candidates.

The country's civil service exams have four levels: national, provincial, municipal and county. The national-level exams are the most difficult and competitive, and of the highest quality. No wonder, national-level civil servants were said to be carrying "golden rice bowls", meaning they didn't have to worry about their future after entering office.