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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
European Journal of Educational Studies 1(3), 2009
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:
European Journal of Educational Studies 1(3), 2009
105
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.
European Journal of Educational Studies 1(3), 2009
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