PHARMACY EXAMINATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19383, 19 July 1926, Page 6

PHARMACY EXAMINATIONS.

Sir.. —As the parent of one of the candidates who failed at the recent pharmacy examination, I wish very emphatically to endorse the criticisms of "Disgusted Parent" in bis letter that appeared in Friday's Heb,ai,d< My son has been to the best coaches in Auckland—they assure me that he is thoroughly competent to pass. His employers give me similar assurances. At the recent examination he answered the papers fully and correctly, yet he receives the curt notification—failed. The board does not even condescend to inform him of his marks. It is impossible to believe that only two out of some 40 candidates who have been carefully prepared for the examination are fit to pass; on the other hand it is fairly evident that the Pharmacy Board is more concerned in restricting admission to the profession than in doing justice to those whose future lies in their hands. it would seem that the only remedy is to entrust the examination to the university and I trust steps will be taken to press the need for this reform upon the Government. Another Pabent.

Sir, —As an unsuccessful candidate, I would like to express my views, which experience has matured. Of "Disgusted Parent's" suggested causes of the failure of candidates we can dismiss, firstly, the incompetence of the examiners, because they are university professors who know their jobs, secondly, the deliberate restriction of the number of passes by the Pharmacy Board as a petty—but favourite—excuse. This leaves us with the fact that candidates are " ignorant and incompetent to an almost unbelievable degree," but casts no reflection whatever on employers. Die section "B" examination deals with abstract subjects of which no part is touched upon in the daily round of the pharmacy, and which are almost new to some of the older members of the profession. No, these "outside" subjects must be read up alone. Seldom is there time during the working day to do this reading. "We work comparatively long hours, 8.30 a.m. till 6 p.m.—and often 7 p.m. before we get the evening meal. We work two nights a week, and drill one. This leaves four nights, and one of these a Sunday, for intensive study in six months of a 12 months' course. Haphazard coaching is available which costs money, but brings no results because it teaches us nothing. No authentic college is available, and we have no intimate knowledge of the peculiarities of the examiners. ?Jost students will admit that botany is the stumbling block. Yet the last botany paper contained only questions om should have been able to answer correctly, having a knowledge of the prescribed texts. We have to learn much, and are asked little, and I have yet to meet the student who can honestly say he correctly antwered the questions and yet failed. The paper was "easy," yet why did 25 per cent, of the entrants leave the room within the first hour? Mainly because what they knew was not what they were asked. The chemist's apprentice has not the necessary time for outside subjects. His jobs include messenger boy's and assistant manager's. He is on his feet eight hours a day at a job which needs all his mental faculties and cannot be expected to "swat" another four. Your correspondent is right in one thing, his advice to would-be pharmacists to leave pharmacy alone. There is room only at the top of the ladder, and the bottom rungs are narrow and weak. Sore, But Satxsttkd