EXAMINATION MALPRACTISE. CAUSES AND EFFECT.

From the onslaught of modernity.

Though people usually say that examination is not a true test of knowledge,

it is still the best test of knowledge capacity and skill in any

field. It is used for the purpose of

selection, placement, certification and

promotion. Examination helps to find out

what they know, test their knowledge and

understanding. It also helps the teachers/

instructors to know the weak and strong

points of his students as they respond to

questions asked as feed back. It also

assists the teachers to modify their

methods, content and strategies of

instruction. Examination helps the students

to discover their hidden talents and

knowledge, research and learn more and as

well create the spirit of healthy

competition among themselves.

What is Examination

Malpratice?

Examination malpractice is simply

understood as examination misconduct or

offense. Examination malpractice ranges

from leakages to offering an unorthodox

help to a candidate by invigilators or any

other person which may give the candidate

an undue advantage over his colleagues.

There are several factors that can lead to

high level of examination malpractice as

we see in our society today. These include

among others, lack of good societal and

family upbringing, materialism, certificate

over consciousness, lack of self –confidence,

poor remuneration of teachers and

examiners , poverty, corruption and

inadequacies in governance and above all

dearth of societal values that breed

prostitution, cultism, truancy, alcoholism and

drug addiction in the schools.

Effect of Examination

Malpratice

The high rate of malpractice in Nigerian

educational system today is an indication

of the gross moral decadence in the

society. This misconduct has affected

virtually all aspects of our lives: social,

economic, political, religious.

Examination malpractice has severely and

adversely affected our modern Nigeria. Its

effect is as enormous as it is grave. The

case of a certificate holder who finds it

impossible to defend his qualification is

not only a disgrace to the person but

also an embarrassment to the society and

its educational system.

Examination malpractice propels students to

engage in various deliquent acts like

stealing or telling lies to obtain money

falsely from their parents and sponsors to

execute their evil project. Some others

resort to outright robbery, gambling,

prostitution. Some others are hired to

engage in assassination, thuggery or arson

so as to “make ends meet ”. It is also

believed that some students join secret

cults in order have their “way” .

Malpractice encourages laziness, lateness

and absenteeism since hard work does not

count anymore. Female students are the

most vulnerable, especially, in the hands of

corrupt teachers. The general outcome of

this is the production of intellectual

dwarfs, illiterate graduates and non-

performers. It discourages hard work and

enthrones mediocrity. Cancellation and

rescheduling of examination is a huge

economic loss and waste of time. This

societal malady is an evil which our

Christian faithfuls and indeed all well–

meaning Nigerians and groups would not

like to go on unabated. All hands must be

on deck. This calls for effective Christian

witness to the gospel…

Either way…..

Submitted by a sibling.Examination malpractices have

consistently remained a bane of Nigerian

educational system. Most foreigners say that

the academic certificates being issued to

graduates in Nigeria are no more valuable than

the pieces of paper on which they are printed.

So what is

examination malpractice? Examination

malpractice is an illegal behaviour by a

candidate before, during or after the

examination so that he/she can attain success

easily and cheaply. Hence, the worth of the

examination is violated. Examination

malpractice is a cankerworm that portends

grave dangers for the nation. The major causes

of examination malpractices are:

i. Laziness of students: Seriousness is thrown to

the wind by many students. Most of them have

little time for their studies. They spend their

time attending parties and forming gangs who

engage in untoward behaviour.

ii. Second is large population of students in

many schools. The few who do very well may be

promoted or admitted into higher institutions.

Students cheat therefore to excel over their

mates.

iii. Many students are desperate; thinking that

passing the examination is a do or die affair;

They want to excel by all means. Some want

promises from parents fulfilled Others want to

be on TV or Newspaper as the best in one form

of examination or the other (though cheats

hardly excel).

iv. Syllabus in many subjects such as Physics,

Chemistry etc. is wide and difficult for teachers

to cover. The school period is shortened by

holidays, shift system and late resumption by

students.

v. Another cause of examination malpractice is

inadequate preparation for exams. In a number

of schools the teachers are few and specialized

ones are fewer so students are not adequately

prepared for the examinations.

vi. Corrupt invigilators and supervisors: the

students know that if they offers bribe to the

invigilators. they will be allowed to cheat in the

examination hall.

vii. Lastly, there is a general trend in our society

towards cheating and this is encouraged by

almost all members of the population.The evil

effects of examination malpractices cannot be

overemphasized. Creativity and resourcefulness

are hampered. It wreaks great havoc on the

social, religious, economic and political lives of

Nigerians. Employees are engaged in jobs they

are not suited for since the Certificate they

claim to possess are not merited.

It is not my duty to reveal the ways students

cheat at examinations and this is not the proper

forum for such a revelation.

Some Possible Solutions to Examination

Malpractices are:

i. Teachers should be trained properly in their

fields. They will then have the tactics to follow

on how to finish the syllabus for a particular

term or at least cover a large part of it.

ii. Holidays may be more in number but

reduced in length as students are reluctant to

resume from long holidays.

iii. Guidance Counselors should be employed in

all schools to guide the students on study habits,

career prospects and requirement for various

careers.

iv. Continuous assessment should be practiced

correctly. It will reduce examination

malpractices as 30% of marks are accumulated

from various assessment techniques such as

projects and assignments before actual

examinations.

v. The number of invigilators and supervisors

should be increased in the exam halls. Exam

officers, Vice Principals and Principals should

occasionally pay visits to exam halls to observe

what is going on. In this way, they could notice

any cheating behaviour.

vi. The students should be thoroughly searched

before entering the hall. Apart from

photographs, finger prints on certificates should

he used for identification as no two persons,

even identical twins could have the same finger

print. That is why it is used in crime

detection.In conclusion, solutions are only

possible where there are Examination Halls,

large classrooms, adequate seats and adequate

number of teachers in a school. A class where

theft are 150 students sitting on the floor and

windows with some armed with knives and

locally made pistols, an invigilator will not risk

his life to prevent examination malpractice.

The government can play a very big role in

curbing this menace by providing enough

classrooms, desks and employing qualified

teachers. And also, during an examination, the

school should ensure that each student gets his/

her own question paper and provide enough

invigilators.The Federal government has

established an Exam Ethics Committee, all Stale

Government and Local Government Councils

should do the same thing.

We all are aiming for a better future’Exam Malpractice