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Examination Malpractice In Secondary Schools In Nigeria: What Sustains It?

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In Nigeria, the last two decades have witnessed an alarming rate of increase in incidents of examination misconduct especially at secondary school level. Evidences abound of increasing incidents of examination malpractice by students, teachers and parents. Examination malpractice has become so widespread that there is virtually no examination anywhere at all levels and even outside the formal school system that there is no one form of sharp practice or the other. Every examination season witnesses the emergence of new and ingenious ways of cheating. This paper addresses the problem of examination malpractice in secondary schools in Nigeria, what sustains it, the consequences of examination malpractice and the ways through which examination malpractice could be curbed in order to give credibility to the examination process in the country.
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European Journal of Educational Studies 1(3), 2009
101
EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA: WHAT
SUSTAINS IT?
Jimoh, Basil Olatunbosun
E-mail address for correspondence : jimohbasil_2009@rocketmail.com
Dept Of Educational Foundations And Management
Faculty Of Education
Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Abstract : In Nigeria, the last two decades have witnessed an alarming rate of increase in incidents of examination
misconduct especially at secondary school level. Evidences abound of increasing incidents of examination malpractice
by students, teachers and parents. Examination malpractice has become so widespread that there is virtually no
examination anywhere at all levels and even outside the formal school system that there is no one form of sharp
practice or the other. Every examination season witnesses the emergence of new and ingenious ways of cheating. This
paper addresses the problem of examination malpractice in secondary schools in Nigeria, what sustains it, the
consequences of examination malpractice and the ways through which examination malpractice could be curbed in
order to give credibility to the examination process in the country.
Keywords: Examination malpractice; sustain; anomie
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION
The value and functionality of any educational system lie in its ability to actualize the goals of education. In educational
systems, world over, the examination process makes the difference. The goals of national educational systems and
indeed national development become like mirage if examination ethics is not encouraged and instituted (Nwadiani,
2005). Till date, examinations still remain the best tool for an objective assessment and evaluation of what learners have
achieved after a period of schooling. Hence, any action that undermines examinations poses a great threat to the validity
and reliability of examination results and certification.
Unfortunately, the process of examination in Nigeria secondary schools has become a “contemporary shame”
(Nwadiani, 2005). This is because of the phenomenon of examination malpractice that has become endemic in the
educational system. The Examination Malpractice Act (1999) explains examination malpractice as any act of omission
or commission by a person who in anticipation of, before, during or after any examination fraudulently secure any
unfair advantage for himself or any other person in such a manner that contravenes the rules and regulations to the
extent of undermining the validity, reliability, authenticity of the examination and ultimately the integrity of the
certificates issued. Oluyeba and Daramola (cited in Alutu & Aluede, 2006) remarked that examination malpractice is
any irregular behaviour exhibited by a candidate or anybody charged with the conduct of examination before, during or
after the examination that contravenes the rules and regulations governing the conduct of such examination.
In Nigeria, the last two decades have witnessed an alarming rate of increase in incidents of examination misconduct.
Evidences abound of increasing involvement in examination malpractice by students, teachers and parents (Vanguard,
2005; Weekend Pointer, 2005; Daily Independent, 2004). The incidence of examination malpractice has become so
widespread that there is virtually no examination anywhere at all levels and outside the formal school system that there
is no one form of sharp practice or the other. The incidences of examination malpractice are common everywhere and
every examination season witnesses the emergence of new and ingenious ways of cheating.
Europen Journal of Educational Studies 1(3), 2009
© 2009 Ozean Publication
European Journal of Educational Studies 1(3), 2009
102
Though examination malpractice is neither a recent phenomenon nor is it peculiar to Nigeria or Africa (Awanbor,
2005), the alarming rate of increase is a global issue. The alarming rate of increase in examination malpractice in
secondary schools in Nigeria calls for concern from all stakeholders in the education sector. It has been widely reported
that parents and teachers aid and abet examination malpractice directly or indirectly. (Vanguard, 2005; Weekend
Pointer, 2005; Daily Independent, 2004 Nigerian Tribune, 2009). Parents go to the extent of bribing their way through
to ensure that their wards get unearned grades while teachers encourage examination malpractice because they lack the
zeal to work but want to be praised for job not done (Alutu & Aluede, 2006). According to Omoluabi and Uzoka (cited
in Alutu & Aluede, 2006), the value system in Nigeria has broken down completely and so adults and youths alike act
without moral scruples. This is the reason why examination malpractice still thrives despite its grave consequences on
the social political and economic structures of the nation.
Examination Malpractice Act No. 33 of 1999 stipulates a minimum punishment of fifty thousand naira (#50,000.00) and
a maximum of five years imprisonment, without option of fine, for violators of the offences stipulated in the Act. The
offences are: cheating at examinations, stealing of question papers, impersonation, disturbances at examination,
obstruction of supervision, forgery of result slip, breach of duty, conspiracy and aiding, etc. Government, examination
bodies, and other concerned citizens have made a lot of efforts to forestall the incidences of examination malpractice
and the problems associated with the conduct of examinations in Nigeria. Although the efforts seem to be yielding some
results, yet incidences of examination malpractice still feature prominently in the school system. In 2006, the Federal
Ministry of Education blacklisted and derecognized 324 secondary schools across the nation as centres for conducting
public examinations from 2007 to 2010. The distribution of the schools that were found guilty of examination
malpractice is shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Examination Malpractice in Nigerian Secondary Schools
Zone
No of schools involved
%
North-Central
North-East
North-West
South-East
South-South
South-West
54
08
12
48
116
86
16.6
2.5
3.6
14.8
36.0
26.5
Total
324
100.0
Source: Week End Times, 17th & 18th February, 2007, p. 4
Table 1 shows the prevalence of examination malpractice in secondary schools in Nigeria. It occurs in all geo-political
zones in the country. The South-South zone has 116 schools, followed by South-West zone with 86 schools. The North-
East zone has 8 schools which is the least in the six zones.
The phenomenon of examination malpractice seems to be aggravated by the large scale and shameful involvement of
dishonest and greedy teachers, school heads, parents and all those who take part in examination administration (Ijaiya,
1998). The prominence assumed by this malady in the school system has become a source of concern to stakeholders in
the education industry. Every examination season witnesses new and ingenious methods of cheating. The examination
process has become endangered to the extent that certification has almost lost its credibility in the country. Certificates
no longer seem to reflect skill and competence. Accusing fingers have been pointed at teachers, school heads, parents,
students, examination officials and even security agents as those responsible for examination malpractice in the school
system. It is against this background that this paper discusses the conditions that sustain examination malpractice in
Nigeria and the ways though which this problem can be resolved.
Conditions that Sustain Examination Malpractice in Nigeria
The phenomenon of examination malpractice is influenced by many factors. According to Ivowi (1997), lack of
confidence as a result of inadequate preparation, peer influence, societal influence, parental support and poor facilities
in schools are some of the factors responsible for examination malpractices. Writing in the same vein, Badmus (2006),
Awanbor (2005), Nwandiani (2005), Okafor (2006), Ayua (2006), Azare (2006) and Aminu (2006) identified school
programmes, teaching learning environment, the teacher, the student, over value of certificates, decadence in the
European Journal of Educational Studies 1(3), 2009
103
Nigerian society and parental support as some factors responsible for examination malpractice in the Nigerian
educational system. As to what sustains examination malpractice in the country, the writer holds the opinion that
societal apathy, which is summed up in the term “anomie” is what sustains examination malpractice in Nigeria.
Anomie and Examination Malpractice
Anomie is conceived as a breakdown in the cultural structure due to disjunction between the cultural norms and goals
and the socially structured capacities of members of the group to act in accord with them (Merton, 1968). In this
conception, cultural values may help to produce behaviour that is at odds with the mandates of the values themselves.
Anomie gives birth to aberrant behaviour and non-conformity, which is a symptom of dissociation between culturally
prescribed goals and socially prescribed means for realizing these goals. A society that places exceptionally strong
emphasis on goal achievement without a corresponding emphasis on institutionalized means of achieving these goals is
bound to exert pressures on some members of the society that may eventually resort to the use of any technically
expedient means in achieving these goals irrespective of whether the means employed is legitimate or not. The process
whereby exaltation of the end generates a de-institutionalization of the means to the end occurs in many societies where
the two components of the social structure are not highly integrated.
Contemporary Nigerian society places great emphasis on success goals without equivalent emphasis on institutional
means of attaining these goals. The society is characterized by a heavy emphasis on success and wealth without a
corresponding emphasis on legitimate means and avenues to be used in achieving success. Everything in Nigeria these
days is driven by the desire for success irrespective of the means used in achieving success. The country has become a
commercial venture and no longer a place for selfless service. Everyone is out to make quick money and patriotism is
endangered. There is a disjunction between the culturally acclaimed goals and the institutional procedures for achieving
these goals. The attenuation of this over time is the anomie that now characterizes the Nigerian society. The society, as
it is constituted today, is founded on faulty/fragile education, political, economic, physical and social environment that
cannot produce a better tomorrow (Ojeikere, 2004). The country is bedeviled with social and economic ills such as
cultism, moral decadence, embezzlement, social injustice, corruption, and so on. It has become a society where the
custom is to decorate miscreants, knaves, scam artists and violators of national trust with national honours and appoint
them to exalted public offices (Ndibe, cited in Ojeikere, 2004).
The social vices bedeviling the society have permeated the entire segments of the education sector. The manifestations
are moral decadence, loss of family values, cultism and examination malpractice that has become endemic the education
system of the country. The societal emphasis on success-goals, irrespective of the means employed in achieving these
goals, has pressurized some participants in the education industry to strain toward anomie. Such participants have
resorted to the use of illegitimate procedures in achieving success in examinations. The disjunction between culturally
acclaimed goals and the institutionalized means of achieving these goals coupled with the cultural context of great
emphasis on success-goals without equivalent emphasis upon institutional means of attaining these goals have created
an environment that predisposes some students, teachers, parents and others to examination malpractice. Students are
involved because they want to achieve success; parents are involved because they want good grades for their wards;
teachers and others are involved because of the financial, material and other intangible gains derivable from
involvement in examination malpractice.
Examination malpractice, a variety of corruption is sustained by whatever sustains corruption in the country. Capitalism
has eroded the moral values of the Nigerian society. Social, economic, political, religious and educational vices are
celebrated and rewarded in the country while virtue is punished. How can students, teachers and others shun
examination malpractice when they “see criminals being set free through legalisms and court room gymnastics or
worse, through wretched and criminal influence peddling?” (Aminu, 2006).
Closely related to the moral decadence in the society is the greed for money. The monetary rewards accruing to
participants of examination malpractice is enormous and unimaginable. If the police can openly accept bribe on the
highways, why would those involved in the conduct of examinations not accept monetary incentives to subvert the
conduct of examinations? Parents and guardians are ready to give encouragement and pay costs because they
desperately want their children and wards to acquire certificates.
Furthermore, there is the issue of over-value of certificates. The problem of over value of certificates could be traced to
the colonial past when the colonial masters issued certificates as testimonials to the natives who had undergone some
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104
form of instruction in administration. Such administrative certificates instantly catapulted the holders from life ordinary
and transformed them into local economic and social superiors. Certificates or similar credentials became instant means
of considerable social and economic leverage and opportunities for future political power. Ever since, the value system
had placed emphasis on certificates because of their assumed transformational power. This inherited notion has
dominated and suffused the Nigerian school system so much so that the product of the system preferred to flaunt
certificates and credentials rather than knowledge, skill and competence. Consequently, students engage in short-cut
means of acquiring these certificates during examinations. In the same vein, parental indiscipline and abuse of wealth
sustain the phenomenon of examination malpractice. Many parents believe that with their wealth they can catapult their
children to any heights in the society even if it involves buying question papers and bribing teachers and invigilators to
ensure that their children pass examinations.
The introduction of the Global System of Mobile Telephones (GSM) in the country has revolutionized examination
malpractice in the school system. The emergence of technological devices has spawned new and more sophisticated
approaches to dishonest conduct during examinations. A lot of academic information is stored in handsets for direct use
in examination halls or for onward transfer via SMS to other students any where in the country Students with personal
digital assistants or cell phones can beam or call data silently from across a classroom, or with a cell phone from
anywhere off the school environment. The society does not have control over its communication system.
Dangers and Consequences of Examination Malpractice
Examination malpractice is a social evil that can damage society to the extent of possibly leading to a failed state. It has
very serious economic, political and social consequences. In the last ten years alone, the West African Examinations
Council (WAEC) had to cancel the results of 814, 699 candidates in its May/June Examinations (Aminu, 2006).
Considering the cost of buying examination forms alone, this amount to a waste of about 2.5 billion naira. Apart from
direct wastage of money, there is also wastage in the form of opportunity costs to the nation and society.
Examination malpractices render the goals of education invalid. The actualization of the goals of education will
continue to be a mirage if the scourge of examination malpractice is not eradicated from the system. The country will
end up producing graduates who lack the knowledge, skill and competence to exploit the resources of the nation.
Besides, the graduates will lack the right type of values and attitude needed for survival in a globalized economy.
Malpractice leads to irreversible loss of credibility. A country that becomes noted for examination malpractice losses
international credibility. The implication is that documents emanating from such country will be treated with suspicion.
Consequently, certificates awarded by such country’s educational institutions are disbelieved. Such country’s
educational institutions are as good as dead as far as international cooperation in education is concerned.
The fight against corruption cannot succeed if examination malpractice continues to be endemic in the educational
system. As leaders of tomorrow who have gone through a school system characterized by academic fraud and
dishonesty, the youths of the country will sow and nurture this fraudulent behaviour in any organization they find
themselves. They will be destined to a life of crime, fraud and corrupt practices. The consequences of examination
malpractice are grave as elaborated above. What is the way out of this educational quagmire?
The Way Forward
Examination malpractice, which started in Nigeria as a minor misdemeanour has not only assumed a frightening
dimension, it seems to have become a permanent feature of Nigeria education system. Efforts by governments,
examining bodies, institutions, individuals and concerned groups towards eradicating it have not yielded meaningful
results. Rather, the situation has become worse in recent times. The new trend involves an organized system of the
supervisors, invigilators, teachers, and in some cases heads of schools. There is therefore the need for a team effort to
stem this social malaise that has become inimical to educational development in the country. Since previous approaches
aimed at curbing this hydra-headed problem seem to have yield no dividends, the writer advocates the following
strategies for curbing the problem:
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Sincere Implementation of Legislation by Government and Other Agencies
In the past and even recently, decrees, laws, edits (Decree No. 27 of 1973, Special Tribunal (Miscellaneous Offences)
Act Cap 410, Examination Malpractice Act No. 33 of 1999) have been promulgated and enacted with sanctions and
penalties spelt out for offenders and participants in examination malpractice. But these penalties have not been
effectively enforced by the authorities and bodies initiating them because of the Nigerian factor. In addition, these laws
lack institutional framework for the implementation of their provisions (Orbih, 2006). Since earlier approaches have not
curbed examination malpractices, the writer is of the view that a more pragmatic approach to the problem should be
adopted. Experience in the fight against corruption in Nigeria has shown that only the creation of a special commission
(such as ICPC and EFCC) can address adequately this crisis facing the education sector. To this end, an Examination
Malpractice Commission should be created to address this social malaise. According to Orbhi (2006), such a body
should be independent and empowered to have its team of investigators and prosecutors. In order to facilitate its quick
dispensation of justice, a schedule of rules should be made to side tract the prevailing procedural rules that often lead to
inordinate delays. In addition, such a body should be independent, devoid of government interference, and provision for
it’s funding backed by law.
Empowerment of Teachers
Teachers cannot provide experience and activities that guide students’ progress towards understanding of ideas if they
themselves do not know what these ideas are; neither can they provide experiences that challenge students
understanding if they themselves share the same misunderstanding. The implication of this is that greater emphasis
should now be placed on teacher professional development within a whole school development or improvement strategy
alongside a greater focus on curriculum, instruction and performance standard of pupils (Badmus, 2006). Such
programmes should be funded by government agencies and mounted by suitable learning units/centres. Teachers
continuing education programme must be linked to curriculum change and practices that can influence learners’
achievement. Teacher empowerment should not be limited to professional development alone; it should cover his
reward system and job environment. A special welfare scheme should be introduced for teachers at all levels. In fact,
teachers should have a robust salary structure. In addition to this, his job environment should be enlarged and enriched
to make his job interesting and worthwhile. These put together will enhance the teacher’s image and commitment to his
job.
Less Emphasis on Certificates and Paper Qualification
Nigeria’s education system is largely certificate oriented. So much value and emphasis are placed on certificates instead
of knowledge, skills and competence. According to Nwandiani (2005), the market place value and reward for the level
and face value quality of certificates promote tendencies for and acts of cheating in the process of certification. Many
school leavers and dropouts have certificates without knowledge and skills. Most of the social maladies like
manufacture and sale of fake drugs by pharmacists, collapse of buildings, massive fraud in banks and miscarriage of
justice are consequences of over emphasis and value on certificates. And if this trend is allowed to continue, the country
will end up with doctors who cannot differentiate between vein and artery, lawyers who cannot differentiate between an
accused person and the complainant and teachers who may not be able to spell the names of their schools correctly
(Orbih, 2006). It is high time the nation took certificates no more as passports to jobs or higher education; more
emphasis should be placed on the competence and skill acquisition. The implication of this is that assessment of
students should no longer be based on one almighty examination; rather, it should be continuous, from the very first day
at school to the very last day. Continuous Assessment should be properly implemented. In addition, there should be re-
orientation in the value system of the country.
Improved Funding of the Education Sector
The education sector in Nigeria is grossly under funded. The inadequate funding of the public school system is the
cause of other problems that have undermined quality in the sector. Nigeria’s funding efforts of education is low, and its
budgetary priority for the education sector is even lower. In 2003, out of a national budget of 765.1 billion naira, only
13.9 billion was allocated to education, representing, 1.83% (Post Express, 2003) as against UNESCO’s 26%
European Journal of Educational Studies 1(3), 2009
106
recommendation. Studies have shown that space facilities and equipment are in short supply at all levels of education
(NAE, 2004; Omoifo et al, 2002 and Okobia, 2006). The Nigerian Academy of Education Report (2004) showed that
teacher commitment was severely affected by their level of job satisfaction. Teachers were most dissatisfied by their
workload, school facilities and services, professional development and reward system. In the same vein, graduates and
other professionals from tertiary institutions reported poor study conditions in their institutions (Omoifo, et al cited in
Badmus (2006)). One of the consequences of this is involvement in academic fraud to cover the deficiency of under
funding. With space facilities in short supply, examination halls will always be over crowded. An improvement on the
current funding efforts will provide conducive teaching and learning environment devoid of academic fraud and other
sharp practices associated with the assessment process in the school system.
Campaigns and Seminars on the Dangers of Examination Malpractice
To be able to curb examination malpractices, there should be continuous grassroots campaigns and seminars organized
by all stakeholders in the education sector on the dangers associated with examination malpractices. This will help to
sensitize and conscientize the people. These campaigns will help the people to internalize the true values of life, and
over time shed the vices associated with their existence. As the attitudes of the people change, external misbehaviours
will also be positively affected. The examination Ethics Project (a non-governmental organization) will make large
scale and far reaching impact in this regard. In addition, these seminars and campaigns will help restore the lost
cherished moral values of honesty, hardwork, dedication and uprightness that hitherto characterized the Nigerian
society.
Special Welfare Package for Examination Officials
In addition to the above measures, a special welfare package should be put in place for examination officials to
discourage them from financial and material inducements from students, parents and others who may want to subvert
examination process. These examination officials include teachers who invigilate examinations, supervisors who
oversee the conduct of examinations in schools, officers of examination bodies who monitor the conduct of
examinations and law enforcement agents who in charge of security in examination centres.
Conclusion
Examination malpractice is a social problem that has wrecked unimaginable havoc to the entire fabric of Nigeria. It is a
hydra headed problem that requires a multidimensional approach to its resolution. Any effort aimed at resolving this
problem must be collaborative, that is, involving all stakeholders in the education sector, if not, such effort will end up
being an exercise in futility.
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... Examination malpractice has become so commonplace that very few examinations are conducted without it. It is a prevalent issue worldwide, with new and creative cheating methods emerging every examination season (Jimoh, 2009). The pervasiveness of examination malpractices in all educational settings or systems in Nigeria reflects societal decadence. ...
... Since governments, institutions, individuals, and concerned groups have not effectively addressed the examination malpractice problem in Nigeria, it has become a persistent problem (Jimoh, 2009). Some of the common and popular strategies used in curbing examination malpractices in Nigeria include the following: a) Government legislation, teacher professional development, less emphasis on paper qualifications, improved education funding, awareness campaigns, and special welfare packages for teachers and examination officials are strategies to combat examination malpractices (Jimoh, 2009). ...
... Since governments, institutions, individuals, and concerned groups have not effectively addressed the examination malpractice problem in Nigeria, it has become a persistent problem (Jimoh, 2009). Some of the common and popular strategies used in curbing examination malpractices in Nigeria include the following: a) Government legislation, teacher professional development, less emphasis on paper qualifications, improved education funding, awareness campaigns, and special welfare packages for teachers and examination officials are strategies to combat examination malpractices (Jimoh, 2009). b) Effective examination invigilation: Invigilation plays a critical role in examination administration because, if it is effectively carried out, it will curb examination malpractice acts during the examination period (Nkechi & Njoku, 2016). ...
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Examination malpractice is a pressing and pervasive issue across all levels of education in Nigeria, undermining the integrity of academic assessments and posing significant challenges to the educational system. A qualitative approach was adopted using a semi-structured interview, which allowed open-ended questions. This study employs a phenomenological design that examines the lived experiences of nine quality assurance leaders tasked with monitoring the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) in the Northwestern region of Nigeria. Through in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, the study unravels the nature and forms of examination malpractices, ranging from traditional methods to advanced strategies involving collusion and technology. Internal and external agents within the education system are identified as facilitators of malpractice, driven by financial incentives and societal pressures. Root causes, including societal emphasis on certificates and infrastructural inadequacies, underscore the systemic challenges contributing to malpractice. Drawing from the narratives of the participants, who are quality assurance leaders, recommendations are proposed to address the issue comprehensively. These include shifting societal focus towards moral ethics and competencies, leveraging technology for surveillance, and imposing stronger penalties on examination malpractice perpetrators. By implementing these recommendations, education stakeholders would be able to restore confidence, safeguard the integrity of public examinations, and foster a culture of academic honesty in Northwestern Nigeria and Nigeria at large.
... This is because performance in public examinations is now used as a prerequisite for admission into other levels of schooling, job placements, and awards of certificate and diploma (Adegboyega, 2017). Therefore, examination malpractice is any illegal act committed by a student single headedly or in collaboration with others; like fellow students, parents, teachers, supervisors, invigilators, printers and anybody or group of people before, during or after examination in order to obtain undeserved marks or grades (Jimoh, 2019). Examinations can be used to classify students into those with higher and lower abilities. ...
... The disjunction between culturally acclaimed goals and the institutionalized means of achieving these goals coupled with the cultural context of great emphasis on successgoals without equivalent emphasis upon institutional means of attaining these goals have created an environment that predisposes some students, teachers, parents and others to examination malpractice, (Jimoh, 2019). The Nigerian society today is characterized by a heavy emphasis on success and wealth without a corresponding emphasis on legitimate means and avenues to be used in achieving the success. ...
... The implication is that documents or certificates emanating from such country will be treated with suspicion as is the case of Nigeria today. Such country"s educational institutions are as good as dead as far as international cooperation in education is concerned (Jimoh, 2019). ...
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This study examined causes and consequences of examination malpractice among secondary schools in Kwara State. This study adopted descriptive survey type. The population of this study comprised all public senior secondary school students in Kwara State. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 10 public senior secondary schools in the state. Simple random sampling technique were used to select 20 students from each public senior secondary schools, making 200 public senior secondary school II students as respondents (sample) for the study. Examination Malpractice Scale by Ongong (2018) was used to collect necessary data. Descriptive statistic of frequency count and percentage was used to answer the demographic data of respondents, the research questions were answered by mean and ranking order while the research hypotheses were tested by t-test of inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed the causes and consequences of examination malpractice among secondary schools. It was also established that there was no significant difference in the causes and consequences of examination malpractice among secondary schools in Kwara State based on gender. Part of the recommendations stated that sound educational policy should be put in place to emphasise the supremacy of skills and professional competence over certificate. Religious and community leaders should be used to intervene on parents who insist on their children getting the best result without genuine efforts for it. School teachers should be motivated and remunerated adequately and learning environment made friendly so that they can do their work satisfactorily and cover the syllabus before examinations.
... The rate of this crime has become so widespread that there is virtually no examination anywhere at all levels and outside the formal school system that there is no one form of illegal practice or another, (Nnam & Inah, 2015;Ojonemi, Enejoh, Enejoh & Olatunmibi, 2013). Examination malpractices are common everywhere and every examination season witnesses the emergence of new and ingenious ways of cheating, (Nnam & Inah, 2015;Anzene, 2014;Ojonemi et al., 2013;Jimoh, 2009). ...
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The examination has been commonly accepted as the best means of assessment of students in our educational institutions. The examination is a formal test of the knowledge or ability of students. It is an instrument used for the assessment of individual skills and knowledge content, both in general and specific areas of study. Examination malpractice is also known as cheating is the illegal action that students take during their examinations to try to make good grades by cutting corners. The hues and cries about examination malpractice taking place at all levels of the Nigerian educational system are nothing but a reflection of the decay in the value system of the society. Examination malpractice is a deliberate wrongdoing contrary to official examination rules and designed to place a candidate at an unfair advantage. Examination malpractices are common everywhere and every examination season witnesses the emergence of new and ingenious ways of cheating. Examination malpractices are one of the challenges facing the educational system in Nigeria and are known to have existed for some time in Nigeria. The purpose of this study is to Assess the perceived factors responsible for examination malpractice among students of the College of Education in Kano, State Nigeria. One research question and research hypothesis were developed to guide the study. Survey Research Design was adopted for the study. A sample of 251 students was selected through a purposive sampling technique. A questionnaire titled "Factors Responsible for Examination Malpractices Questionnaire" (FREMPQ) was adopted. The data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, independent t-test. The result of the study indicated that both male and female students are aware of the perceived factors responsible for examination malpractice in the College of Education in Kano, State Nigeria. Furthermore, the result of the study also revealed that there was no significant difference between male and female students on the perceived factors responsible for examination malpractice in the College of Education in Kano, State Nigeria.
... Examination malpractice which started very small has evolved at an alarming rate since it began in 1914 as students have adopted new ways of engaging in it. Examination malpractice is so pronounced that in virtually every examination at all levels there is examination malpractice (Olatunbosun, 2011;Folarin, 2013;Anzene, 2014;and Olurenmi 2014). Omeri (2012) posited that the rate of examination malpractice in Nigeria is so high that it rated number one in the world"s examination malpractice index. ...
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This paper deals with the impact of examination malpractice on university education in Nigeria. Through university education, products (students) are groomed to take on challenges, jobs, and the likes so as to contribute to the development of Nigeria. The university sets up examinations to test these students on what they have learnt and also to determine the efforts of lecturers in doing their jobs. These examinations require hard work on the part of students to pass them. However, some miscreants have resorted to devious means in passing these examinations. Examination malpractice refers to the poor examination conduct before, during and after an examination so as to pass without any hard work. The aim of this paper is to determine the impact of examination malpractice on university education in Nigeria. The objective is to provide possible ways of curbing the problem of examination malpractice in Nigerian universities. The paper gave some forms of examination malpractice in the university to include impersonation, sorting, toilet visits amongst others and the possible causes of examination malpractice which include laziness on the part of students, fear of failure, the desire for money, etc. The paper also gave the consequences that the universities and the nation as a whole would face as a result of examination malpractice in the universities in the country. Conclusions were made and possible solutions to the problem of examination malpractice were provided to include proper training of invigilators, installation of CCTV cameras in examination halls, adequate punishment for offenders, proper training of invigilators, amongst others.
... In order to achieve these national aspirations and tertiary education goals, examination which is still seen as the best tool for assessment of learners should not be compromised. According to Jimoh (2009), examination still remains the best tool for objective assessment and evaluation of what learners have acquired over a period of schooling, thus any action or inaction poses a great danger to the validity, reliability and authenticity of examination results and certificates. It is generally recognized that examinations determine the extent to which educational objectives have been achieved as well as the extent to which educational institutions have served the needs of the learners, community and society. ...
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This study investigated lecturers' perception of the usefulness of computer-based examination in tertiary institutions in Edo State, Nigeria. Three research questions guided this study while one hypotheses was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of this study was 1,480 lecturers in three tertiary institutions in Edo State. A sample of 148 lecturers was chosen for this study. The instrument used was the researcher designed questionnaire titled: "Lecturers Perception on the Use of the Computer-Based Examination Questionnaire (LEPUCBETEQ)". The instrument was validated by the researchers with assistants of two other experts in Educational Management. The reliability test was carried out on the instrument using test-re-test reliability method and a reliability index of 0.82 was obtained. The data collected were analyzed using percentage and one way analysis of variance. The findings of the study showed that the lecturers had positive perception on the use of the CBE by students and that lecturers had positive perception on students' acceptability of the use of computer-based examination and that no significant difference exist in lecturers' perception of the use of CBE as a mode of assessment of the students in the tertiary institutions based on school type. It was recommended that Vice-Chancellors of universities, Rectors of polytechnics and Provosts of Colleges of Education should introduce Computer-Based Examination in their schools as mode of students' assessment and that government as proprietors of these institutions should endeavour to provide the necessary ICT facilities for the full implementation of CBE in the tertiary institutions.
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Examination malpractice is a widespread concern that corrodes the foundation of educational systems worldwide. This abstract delves into the specific context of Sierra Leone, exploring the causes and far-reaching effects of examination malpractice on the nation's development. The causes include inadequate preparation, societal pressures, corruption, and the absence of values education. These elements contribute to a culture where cheating is normalized. The effects, in turn, reverberate across the fabric of society. The quality of the workforce diminishes, meritocracy erodes, education standards decline, and the nation's competitiveness is compromised. Economic growth, social cohesion, and moral values are all adversely impacted. In order to improve the quality of the education system, the country must invest in improving educational infrastructure, cultivating ethical values, and implementing strict enforcement and monitoring mechanisms during examinations. Eradicating examination malpractice is pivotal to realizing a robust education system and sustainable national development in Sierra Leone.
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The research studies investigated influence of examination malpractice on Educational Management undergraduate students’ reading culture in Rivers State owned University in Rivers State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The research adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised 398 Department of Educational Management students. The sample size of the study was 398. The sample size was taken as census. The instrument for data collection was structured questionnaires titled, Influence of Examination Malpractice on Students Reading Culture Questionnaire. The instrument used for data collection was face and content validated by an expert from Educational Management and two other experts from the Department of Measurement and Evaluation of the Faculty of Education in Rivers State University. The average reliability coefficient of the instruments was 0.81 which indicates a reasonable reliability coefficient. 398 copies of the instrument were administered directly to the respondents by the researchers and their two trained assistants and only 394 were retrieved amounting to 0.99 percent return of the administered instrument. The research questions posed were answered using mean and standard deviation while z-test was used to test the formulated hypotheses. Findings of the study revealed that, during and post examination malpractice to a high extent influence students’ reading culture in senior secondary schools in Rivers State. The researcher made the following recommendations that, there should be effective mechanisms put in place to curb and sanction students who engage in pre and during examination malpractices and concerted efforts should be made at improving the level of discipline meted out on teachers who award unmerited marks to students and the recipients of underserving marks.
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This cross-sectional study investigated the efficacy of an extended theory of planned behavior in predicting academic dishonesty among students of higher education. The participants comprised 328 undergraduates drawn from Nigerian and Malaysian public universities. Existing measures were adapted and validated using Cronbach’s alpha statistics and confirmatory factor analysis approach. The fit statistics of the extended model (χ²/df = 2.08, CFI = .926, and RMSEA = .057) were adequate. Findings revealed that academic dishonesty, especially cheating, was common in the sampled population. The key psychological factors contributing to this problem were positive attitude towards the conducts, lack of strict sanctions against the conducts, and a perceived self-confidence of some students to cheat successfully. Another strong factor was the belief that intellectual material is “public property.” The modified model was not gender-bias, suggesting that the underpinning factors were similar irrespective of the gender-type of the students. Hence, a unified, non-gender discriminating approach will be effective in planned actions towards reversing the trend.
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This main objective of this work was to determine the impact of examination malpractice on the administration of secondary schools in Nigeria. The study adopted cross-sectional survey technique and secondary sources of data, which means the research is an ex-post facto design. The theoretical framework of this study Is deviant/control theory. However, the findings revealed that examination malpractice has several types and its scale and frequency of occurrence is worrisome. Therefore, the study concludes that examination malpractice has the capacity to disarticulate administrative machinery of secondary education in Nigeria. Finally, the study recommends among other things that adequate sanctions should be apportioned to perpetrators to serve as deterrent. Again, less emphasis should be placed on paper qualification instead of knowledge and competence.
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Analysis of labor statistics and employer surveys indicate that the unemployment rate for university graduates may be 22 percent and that their prospects for employment have worsened over time. In addition, the share of graduates obtaining employment in the public sector has fallen drastically. The messages from the managers of surveyed firms are clear: (a) university graduates are poorly trained and unproductive on the job; (b) graduate skills have steadily deteriorated over the past decade; and (c) shortcomings are particularly severe in oral and written communication, and in applied technical skills. Employers frequently compensate for insufficient academic preparation by organizing remedial courses for new employees. This increases the firms’ operating costs, and reduces their profitability and competitiveness.© 2001 International Association of Universities. Higher Education Policy Vol. 14, (2001) 141–159
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Secondary school students' perceptions of examination malpractices and examination ethics were assessed. The participants were drawn from Secondary Schools in the Benin Metropolis of Nigeria. The study revealed that majority of the students believed that their indulgence in examination malpractice was a common occurrence, which will be difficult to eradicate. Parents, teachers and school principals were found to encourage cheating in examinations. The study also revealed that majority of the students had a very wrong notion about examination ethics; believing that examination ethics entail among others sitting next to someone in order to copy from his/her paper in the examination hall. In all, counselling intervention strategies such as, school counsellors partnering with the school authorities and students to set up examination ethics clubs that will teach the virtues of hardwork; school counsellors partnering with parents/ teachers association and other significant others on strategies that would help to inculcate in them the virtues of "responsibility" were advocated.
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