Public Administration (SYBA-PAPER-III) Importance of Training

Training of Civil Servants

In Public Administration, training means conscious efforts made to improve the skills, powers, and intelligence of an employee and to develop his attitudes and value-system in a desired direction. In broad and general terms, training is a lifelong phenomenon.

• Training, informally and unconsciously begins with our childhood itself.
• But in the narrow and specialized sense, training of civil servants is a deliberate effort, directed to increase the specific skills and vocational competence of the civil servants in their routine work.

William Torpey defined training as "the process of developing skills, habits, knowledge, and aptitudes in employees for the purpose of increasing the effectiveness of the employees in their present government position as well as preparing the employees for future government positions".  

About the meaning of training, we can say that:

• Training is a conscious, deliberate and planned effort;
• Training is specific and limited;
• It means imparting instructions about a particular work or profession;
• Its purpose is to improve the skill, knowledge and effectiveness of the employees in their task; and
• It also aims at preparing an employee for higher responsibilities.

Importance of Training:

•  Training improves the efficiency of the employees in administration;
• Training improves the occupational skill and knowledge of the employees, so that they can do their work effectively;
• Training inducts a new employee into the organisation and imparts him knowledge of the goals and objectives of the organisation, his own role in the organisation and techniques and methods of carrying out his duties. Consequently, the employees can best contribute to the attainment of organizational goals;
• Because there are constant changes in the and techniques of the organizations, training adjusts the employees with the new organizational changes;
• Training makes up for the deficiencies of the newly recruited persons.  Fresh University graduates are given necessary training to shape and mould them in the desired direction and make them suitable for government work.
• Training keeps the employees informed about the latest developments in his field and thus, keeps his knowledge up-to-date;
• Training improves the integrity and morale of the employees. The very existence of the training process gives the trainees‘ an added sense of dignity and in their work and office;
• Training develops a-sense of community service and belongingness in the employees. They realize that their work is an essential part of the organisation and the community. Therefore, they put more efforts in their work. This gives the employees a sense of pride and self-fulfillment in their work. It is, therefore, said that everybody in the civil service must get an opportunity of training of one kind or other;
• Training makes the employees, people oriented: It inculcates a basic principle ill them, that they are public servants and not masters. This is necessary in a democratic administrative system;
• Training prepares the employees for higher positions and greater responsibilities; and
• Finally, training fosters homogeneity of outlook and broadens the vision and outlook of the employees.