TOO FEW PASSES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 18, 21 July 1926, Page 9

TOO FEW PASSES

PHARMACY EXAMINATIONS

REPLY TO CRITICISMS,

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

Strong exception _to statements made recently in connection with the conduct of the B section of the Pharmacy Board examination was taken to-day by Mr. E. Smith, a member of the board. "The board, being a public body, does not resent open criticism," Mr. Smith said, 'H.ut it takes strong exception to imputations of unfair methods, aud what amounts to a charge of breach of faith lodged against it. Various papers are set by two University professors, who correct them and allot the marks. There are no partial passes, and a candidate must pass in both chemistry and botany. The only part the board takes in this connection is to announce the marks given by the examiners."

Mr. Smith protested against the statements that the board was apparently doing its best to keep as many as possible out of the profession. Every candidate, he said, was known by a number, and it was not known to whom a set of marks belonged until the totals were all completed. The board had no desire, and certainly no power, to restrict the number of persons passing the examinations, he said. If it had such a desire, surely it could achieve it by the straightforward method of making the standard higher. The reason for any candidate failing lay solely in the fact that he had not satisfied the examiners. Anyone with a grievance could apply for a written criticism of his paper from the examiner, and would receive it on payment of extra fee. It had been stated that only two out of forty candidates in Auckland had passed the B section, whereas the number who sat was actually twenty-seven. The board was naturally concerned about the low percentage of passes, and among other questions this would be discussed at a meeting to be held in about three weeks. However, there was no reason why the standard should be lowered at present. 1$ was capable of meeting the requirements of the profession, and application by any average candidate to ground-work would successfully bring him through.