PHARMACY BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 140, 15 May 1936, Page 7

PHARMACY BOARD

EXAMINATION PROCEDURE. WELLINGTON, May 14. “It is rather a serious matter; what I might call an educational scandal,” said Dr. D. E. Hansen, principal of the Christchurch Technical College, when supporting remits on the subject of Pharmacy Board examinations, introduced at the annual conference of the New Zealand Technical School Teachers’ Association, which was continued at 'Wellington yesterday. The criticism of Dr. Hansen and other delegates related to the granting of extra marks to candidates who attended the Pharmacy Board College or took its correspondence course. Mr B. M. Davis, of Auckland, who spoke first to the remits, said the board had been in the habit of granting an extra 10 per cent in marks to examination candidates who had never been near the Pharmacy College, but who were able to pay for a correspondence course through the college. The purpose of the remit was to disclose what amounted to a gross abuse of a privilege given the board really tor the purpose of encouraging pupils to its college. He had been informed by the board that the 10 per cent extra marks were given those who attended the official college or took its correspondence course, usually followed by three or four weeks’ intensive study

at the college.. He had had similar experience, not with the Pharmacy Board, but with a private teacher who was in business, said Mr S. J. Bennett (Palmerston North). Apparently this man was recognised by the board. He would hire a room for a fortnight and give an intensive course. “I feel it our .fluty to speak, even though it might to felt we are attacking either the board or its officers,” said Dr. Hansen. “We have to consider the interests of the young people. It is rather a serious matter; what I might call an educational scandal.” The following remits under the heading “Pharmacy Board Examinations” were then approved without dissent by the delegates: “(a) That representations be made to the Pharmacy Board urging it to prohibit the practice of granting a bonus of marks to those candidates taking a correspondence course in botany and chemistry (including practical chemistry); (b) that the Pharmacy Board be requested to make compulsory the production, by a candidate offering chemistry and botany, of a certificate testifying that he has completed satisfactorily a course of practical work in these subjects at an institution providing such laboratory work and approved by the Education Department; (c) that the attention of the Minister of Education and the Director of Education be drawn to these representations and their endorsement requested.”