MEDICAL COURSE

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 19, 22 January 1921, Page 6

MEDICAL COURSE

SIX YEARS INSTEAD OF FIVE

UNIVERSITY SENATE ',AGREES.

. After some discussion yesterday, afternoon, .^ho University: Senate adopted a recommendation of the Medical and Den: tal • Committee to extend tho medical course from five years to six. A: further recommendation < was that tho intermediate examination' be 'held not later than the . first., week in December of' tho first" year of'-u-tudy; tho first professional in December of tho third year of study; the second professional in December of the four'-'i year; the final examination to be heid in two seotions in the December of the fifth and sixth years of study.. ; . . , ■

. Dr. Ferguson, in moving the adoption of the report, . declared that many universities were lengthening the'period of study, and the New Zealand. curriculum should, be placed on the same levol. F#ve years involved a certain ■■ amount of rush /'and oram.

The Hon. J. A. Hanan opposed the recommendation, 'on the ground that it would hit the student of small means and would curtail the supply of- doctors. ,

Mr. H. F. Yon Haast expressed a hope that Parliamentjwould not interfere and create loopholes" for thoso / who did not qualify. '■',■' .' ' Professor T. ■ A. Hunter suggested the difficulty might be met by securing a higher standard of qualification .in students at the time of . commencing the course, when students would probably be equal to completing the work in five years, as at present. The Chancellor pointed out it would be .harmful to the profession tto set a lower standard of qualification' than in London, where the course was five and a half years. .'. .... The motion was adopted. .