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Pacific Southwest Association of Chemistry Teachers
1. J. Wilk P.O. Box 1037 Stonford, Col~fornia
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Chemical Education in the Union of South Africa
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steady stream of chemical educators, and chemists ill general, moves to Europe, but only a trickle finds its r a y to other parts of the world. I n an area such as South Africa this trickle has slowed down to a not-too-constant dropwise rate. For this reason we face a rather deplorable lack of knowledge as far as both chemical education and general chemical development are concerned. This paper will endeavor to alleviate this situation by looking into the firstmentioned point. With the realization that they face problems similar to ours, possibly we can benefit from the experience of the South African chemical educators and their approach to t,he solution of problems in chemical education. University Students
The university education is patterned after the British system. A high school student, after passing his final examination, which is given on a Union-wide basis, may attend a university, usually of his choice. However, some universities have had to be selective in admitting students, due to lack of facilities and funds. This tightening of admission policy also ties in with the complaint that high schools do not turn out high caliber graduates. Much time must be spent in teaching them fundamentals. Since a B.Sc. degree in chemistry may be obtained after only three years, this lack of basic knowledge presents a definite problem. Furthermore, in spite of admonitions from the chemistry teaching staffs, the curriculum a t eome universities allows the students too much leeway in selecting courses. However, the so-called Honors Degree, generally n prereuuisit,e for graduate work, requires four years of undergraduate study, with the fourth years consisting of advanced course work, and some research. Most, faculties feel that students who may not have high grades might turn out to be excellent research workers. Honors year research helps the faculty to evaluate the research potential of the prospective graduate student. The M.Sc. degree is considered a stepping stone toward the Ph.D. degree, and the trend seems to be to make a master's degree mandatory prior to admittance to candidacy for a doctor's degree. It is felt that this additional requirement will greatly increase the probability that only students who are well qualified mill embark on the Ph.D. curriculum. Furthermore, those students who fail to attain the high standards required of a doctoraI candidate will be eliminated a t an early stage. Thus, neither too much of their time nor that of the faculty will he wasted. Each doctoral dissertation 360
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has to be passed on by an external examiner who may, if he feels justified, reject a dissertation, as not coming up to standard. If both he and the university committee accept a dissertation, the candidate has qualified for his degree. In order to set more definite, and gem erally higher, standards some faculty members have proposed the setting up of a central hoard to pass 011 dissertations. The Role of the Graduate
Assistantships and fellowships go begging, because the student with a bachelor's degree has no desire to go into graduate school. Several reasons cause him to make t.his decision. Industry, with a few exceptions, shows as yet no interest in research, and training for it. A person with a bachelor's degree finds no trouble in securing a well-paying position. Even students who fail, and in one university 30% of one class failed their second year examinat,ions, are approached by company representatives and hired. Consider the much tougher road a Ph.D. candidate must face. After several years of low-income, although rewarding, work he receives his degree. 9' ,lnce most industry considers him less desirable thau a graduate with a B.Sc. degree, he mill find only limited demand for his talents. Government laboratories offer opportunities to some, with relatively poor pay. University Faculties
Good teaching positions, with only eight universities in the country, cannot be found easily, and are not
The University of Cope Town. 01 the foot of Table Mounfoin
remunerative. In a system which calls for one professor for each departmental division only, advancement transitions do not take place often. The relatively young aud healthy holder of a chair may drive to despair the younger faculty members. Two approaches try to correct the situation. In certain cases, the more enlightened industries have given financial aid to the more promising young staff members. Some universities, going by American precedent, have made isolated appointments in special cases to associate professors. Yet, with teaching loads up to 16 hours per week, correcting of examinations a mandatory faculty function, time for research being limited, the hiring and retaining of qualified instructors proves difficult. Whereas formerly the United Kingdom, as well as the continent, to a smaller degree, used to supply personnel, this source seems to have dried up. Some universities decided to sacrifice quality in order to fill the ranks of the faculty; others decided to go without the number of instructors required rather than appoint less qualified persons. Nevertheless, many faculty members excel in teaching and research. Some novel approaches in presenting chemistry may be cited. At Cape Town Professor F. G. Holliman takes a new look a t the teaching of organic chemistry by avoiding a breakdown into aliphatic and aromatic chemistry but rather basing his course on a functional group approach, with a definite physical-orga~c influence. A long-needed rewriting of the presentation of physical chemistry is being undertaken by Dr. V. Pretorius, a t the University of Pretoria. His discussion begins with a survey of elemental particles; from here he expands into the various fields of physical chemistry, tying them all together by means of the elemental particles approach. Student-Faculty Relations
A somewhat more formal relationship seems to exist between students, both undergraduate and graduate, and faculty than may be found a t our colleges and universities. But since teaching takes precedence over research in the Union universities, the faculty member dedicates more time to his students than his counterpart a t many of our universities. Taking advantage of an open-door policy, a student may consult with an instructor any time he so desires. A twice daily "tea hour" seems to benefit graduate students greatly. It gives them an opportunity to get together with the faculty and discuss various problems regarding research, courses, or anything else of interest to them. Some of the staff who have visited our institutes of higher learning stated that they missed this type of meeting, with its pleasant, informal, and stimulating exchange of ideas. Research
In spite of the heavy teaching load, the universities manage to turn out respectable research. It covers many fields of chemistry, with special interest shown to the natural products field. Several research institutes exist, supported by the government and, to some extent, by the industries concerned. The largest organization is the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, with headquarters located in a
campus-like area near Pretoria and smaller units all over the country. Although mostly applied research is carried out, it is hoped that once the personnel problem has found a solution, about 30% of the time may be allocated to investigations of a fundamental nature. Both basic and applied research contributed to the solution of one problem, the desalting of mine waters by means of an electrodialysis system which can handle three million barrels per day. The Leather Research Institute in Grahamstomn, in addition to work on tanning processes, also does work in protein chemistry and the structure of tannin. A neighboring unit is the Wool Research Institute, primarily interested in results of value to wool growers, but hoping to start some long-range protein research. Similar problems are faced by the Fisheries Research Institute in Cape Town, doing routine analytical and developmental work for the fishing industry but hoping to start some long-term research programs. The same may be said of the Sugar Milling Research Institute in Durban. A Wine Research Group in Stellenbosch is getting started, and a Wattle Timber Research Institute in Pietermaritzburg looks into possible uses for wattle timber. Academic Relations Between Universities, Industry, and Government
Research work done a t CSIR, the national steel works laboratories, ISCOR, and a t the research department of the African Explosives and Chemical Industries, Ltd., may count toward a degree. Higher degrees may be conferred on qualified persons by a local university or by the University of South Africa. This organization has its own faculty members and operates on a Union-wide basis. It also acts like a correspondence school and extension center. Selected industries give research grants, and African Explosives has an arrangement with a university whereby members of the company's research division will give lectures a t the university, each person covering his major field of interest. Although this plan was designed to alleviate the lack of regular instructors, it may develop into a permanent addition to the curriculum. Chemistry Instruction in Related Fields
A student desiring to take up medicine or dentistry enters the school of his choice immediately upon graduation from high school. After six years, an M.B. B.Ch.-medical bachelor and surgery bachelor degreemay be awarded. Original research is required for an M.D. degree, and requires two additional years of university. Knowledge of chemistry is required, but not emphasized. The training of a pharmacist consists of two years in a technical college, roughly equivalent to our junior college, plus three years of apprenticeship in a pharmacy. A newly inaugurated alternative consists of a three-year university course, with a two-year apprenticeship. I n either case the candidate must pass a national examination before obtaining a diploma and becoming a member of the pharmaceutical profession. The standards set by the State of California, as depicted in university course requirements, demand a more thorough foundation in chemistry. Volume
36, Number 7, 1959
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Educational Exchange
Due, to some extent, to financial and currency considerations the great majority of scientific personnel in the Union receive their degrees either in their own country or the United Kingdom. Hope has been expressed that more of the promising students will attend universities in this country. Many chemists, authorities in their fields, regularly visit the United States, some for consultations, others for advanced studies, as do members of the medical profession. So far, not enough thought has been given to reciprocation. Some American textbooks are used, especially in the field of chemical engineering. They so far excel in quality that the high price constitutes no major obstacle. This criterion does not apply to chemicals, or laboratory equipment. More and more, European makes are bought because of lower prices, generally equal quality, and better service. A desire has been voiced for closer contact with the AMERICANCHEMICALSOCIETYand the AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENQINEERS.This may lead to a profitable exchange of ideas. Acknowledgments
The author takes great pleasure in expressing his gratitude to the many chemists, both in education and industry, for their hospitality and readiness to discuss their views.
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