Of the Bar Examinations

Nothing against lawyers, but I always thought the bar exams is overhyped.  Other exams are not given as much media attention (e.g., board exams for engineers, doctors, etc.).  While reading the newspaper, I finally came upon a column that reflected my views.

Taken from today's editorial in the Inquirer:

Misplaced interest

It is hard to understand why, up to now, so much fuss is made about the yearly bar examinations. Before the exams, elaborate arrangements are made in putting up the examinees in hotels and attending to all their needs so that they can concentrate on their final review. On the day of the tests, cheering squads and small bands lend a fiesta atmosphere to the occasion as the candidates file into the examination rooms.

On the day the results are announced, the place where the names of the successful examinees are posted is a stage for various reactions to triumph and tragedy. The list of the successful examinees, with the names of the 10 topnotchers in the lead, invariably makes it to the front pages of newspapers.

The great importance placed on the bar exams in the early days of the Commonwealth and the Republic was understandable because lawyers were needed to fill important posts in both the government and private sectors. But now the country has an oversupply of lawyers, and the Philippines possibly ranks up there with the United States as one of the most litigious countries in the world. Now that we are engaged in a serious effort to develop our nation economically and socially, what we need are not more lawyers but more scientists, engineers, economists, managers, technologists.

The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France developed at a fast pace because of their scientists, engineers and technologists. The same is true with the leading Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. These countries are now highly developed not because of their lawyers (although lawyers do contribute to their orderly societies) but because of their scientists, engineers, technologists, economists and managers.

A civilized society cannot exist without people who will help maintain law and order. But we could accelerate the economic development of our country if we gave more attention to science, engineering and technology, encouraged more of our children to take courses in these areas of study and sent more of our people abroad for advanced training in these disciplines.