198
766. In all 54 students were examined, the numbers in each class being
as follows :—
First Professional . . . .
Second do. . . . .
Third
do. . . . .
Number
examined.
19
20
15
54
Number
passed.
14
9
9
32
Percentage.
73.68
45
60
59.25
The percentage of passes this year is again very low, standing, as it does,
at 59.25 in the three classes, as against 72.54 last year.
By the above it will be seen that again this year the number of students
that passed the third professional or final examination was only 9, and I can
only reiterate what I have before said—that the outturn of Veterinary Assistants
from this establishment is totally out of all proportion to the expenditure.
767. Veterinary Captain Pease, Assistant to the Inspector-General, Civil
Veterinary Department, who was a member of the Examining Board at this
College as well as at Lahore, Rajputana, and Bengal, makes the following re-
marks on the examination of the students of the Bombay Veterinary Col-
lege:—
" The general opinion of the Board of Examiners regarding the students who presented themselves for
the final examination is that they are a poor lot. In my subject, bovine pathology, the men were particularly
badly prepared, especially in the practical part of the test. Nine of the candidates were unable to take the
pulse, and five of them could not tell whether an animal was sick or well. I do not consider that the men at
this College were as well up in this subject as were those of the Lahore Veterinary School.
"Some of the men who presented themselves were 'chronics', that is, men who have been hanging on at
the school for a very considerable time. I would suggest, for the consideration of the Bombay Government
the advisability of making some rule limiting the number of times a man may present himself for examination.
I suggest that a similar course in this regard, as that adopted at the Lahore School, be adopted at Bombay;
my own experience of 'chronics' is that they set a bad example to other men in the College and do much
mischief, whilst even when they do pass, they are of very little use as a rule.
" I am glad to see that the Government have adopted my suggestion regarding the number of marks for
a pass in the final examination, and I am sure that this is a step in the right direction ; the rule is simple at
present, as a man has to get one-third marks in both the practical and the theoretical portions of a subject.
" I am sorry to see that grace marks are still allowed; none were, however, awarded, as the Board of
Examiners, at least that part of the Board which, as it is at present constituted, may be termed the 'Outside
members,' are unanimously against grace marks. It seems to me to be a pity that the Bombay Veterinary
College, which is the highest teaching institution of the kind in India, and which turns out men with a higher
certificate than any other school, should lower the standard of the certificate which they issue by awarding
grace marks which are not given by any other College or school.
"There is another point which, in my opinion, greatly detracts from the value of the certificate granted by
this institution, and that is the presence of teachers in the College on the Board of Examination. I may say
that in no other school that I know of is this custom allowed, either in Europe or in this country. I refer
to Veterinary Institutions. In none of these is it customary for a teacher to be also an examiner. The
Examining Board or, as may be alluded to in present circumstances, the 'Outside members', that is what
I take to be the real Examining Board, or Veterinary Lieutenant-Colonel Adams, Veterinary Captain J. W. A.
Morgan, and I hold the opinion that the practice of appointing teachers members of the Board of Examination
should be put a stop to. There is no objection whatever to teachers being present at the examining table; on
the other hand, it is necessary for them to be present to assist the examiners, but they should have nothing
whatever to do with questioning the students or awarding marks.
"I strongly recommend, for the consideration of the Government of Bombay, that the outside examiners
should conduct the examinations so far as the questioning and marking is concerned, and that the teachers
should attend on the examiners to assist them, but should have nothing to do with questioning or marking."
768. I trust that the Government of Bombay will give effect to this
officer's recommendations as to the abolition of grace marks, and that they
will direct that no teachers are to be on the Examining Board.
769. A more important matter is, however, brought to notice in Veteri-
nary Captain Pease's report. I allude to the want of practical knowledge shown
by the students at this institution. The fact that nine of these men who
presented themselves for the final examination were unable to take the pulse
speaks for itself, and I am of opinion that if this College is to be empowered
to grant higher certificates than other educational establishments some change
is imperatively called for; for instead of turning out better men than the other
institutions, it virtually turns out inferior men. The class for the final examin-
ation only numbered 15, and should have been most thoroughly prepared. I
notice in the report submitted by the Principal that he gives a list of extra
duties performed, numbered from (a) to (m), amongst which I notice —"Govern-
ment member of the Bombay Municipal Corporation", "Justice of the Peace