Passing grade increased, 52 PTD participants dropped from special course

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 52 participants who were undergoing a special course to become Administration and Diplomatic Officers (PTD) have been dropped from the programme.

A source, quoted by a news portal, said those dropped included four contract workers who were now jobless and 48 civil servants who had to return to their old jobs.

The contract termination took place after the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan) and Public Service Department (PSD) increased the passing grade for the Diploma in Public Administration Postgraduate programme.

“They were told last Tuesday that the passing grade has been changed from B to A- before they were given the termination letters on Friday and asked to vacate the hostel in Intan today.

“This decision came when they’re already in their seventh month of the programme which started in April,” the source said.

The 10-month course involved 86 participants and those who were dropped were 31 women and 21 men, five of whom are PhD holders.

Another source said the participants were shocked to receive the termination letters as they are almost at the end of the programme. Intan director Datuk Suriani Ahmad confirmed the matter, saying that the decision to increase the passing grade was made with PSD. The participants were expected to score higher based on their job experience.

“They enrolled in this programme through oral evaluation. Under normal circumstances, PTD appointments are made through PSD courses and upon completion, they will enter the Grade 41 service.

“But the participants joined from various grades, including 41, 44, 48, 54 and even JUSA. Since they are special, we expect more from them because they have working experience.

“When we informed them about their performance two months ago, we told them their scores did not meet our expectations. We told them to improve.”