Examination Malpractice: Building on a false foundation

Owonikoko Eniola

One of the objectives of education in Nigeria is to prepare the young ones to face future challenges and develop them to be the leaders of tomorrow. Schools need to conduct examinations as yardsticks for assessment. It is the most practical way of assessment in education.

Examination malpractice is a significant concern in the education system, as it undermines the credibility of assessments, devalues the achievements of honest students, and can lead to a decrease in the overall quality of education.

Examination malpractice, according to Fowoyo, (2012) was recorded even during the era of the white men in the country and is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. This can be accepted as a fact, but one must also agree that this cankerworm has gotten to a devastating state that Nigerian certificates presented outside are questionable and regardless.

This scourge started becoming the order of the day in the late 1980s and the 1990s during the military regimes when the educational sector at both the federal and state levels fell to some states. Previous regimes during these years mangled the school systems and starved them of funds, treated the academics cavalierly, and kept the students to their chagrin, out of the campuses.

Examination malpractice is regarded as a criminal offense carried out by students who are not serious about their studies but want to pass their examinations at all costs.

Educational institutions and authorities implement various measures to prevent and detect examination malpractice, such as strict invigilation, the use of technology for secure test administration, and the implementation of penalties for offenders.
Back in the years, People draws a veil across examinations of malpractices but in the modern age, they advertise it with pride. It has become an issue of concern in the nation’s educational system, which needs prompt attention.

Examination malpractice range from cheating, plagiarism, impersonation, collusion, or any other attempt to gain an unfair advantage.

Examination malpractice usually results in enormous consequences that exceed the strength of the culprit such as; Erosion of academic integrity: When dishonesty becomes prevalent, it diminishes the value of legitimate achievements and erodes the overall integrity of educational systems, unable to defend the certificate (failure in job performance), perpetual condemnation of the conscience, the possibility of unfulfilled dreams and vision, if the student is rusticated from school or terminated at the working place, spill over effect borne by parents and other relatives of culprits and many more.

*Here are some causes of examination practice:*

1. Fear of Failure.

Many students engage in examination malpractices because they are afraid that they will fail the exams. When they should spend quality time reading their notes they are panicking about the examination. The fear of failure is one of the major causes of illegal acts in exams today.

2. Laziness of Students

Yes, it is hundred percent true that many students are very lazy in their academic careers. They are lazy to read and study notes, do their homework and assignments, and carry out the tasks given to them by their teachers or lecturers. Laziness will make any students go the extra mile (illegal ways) to pass exams.

3. Poor Parental Upbringing

You will agree with me that poor parental upbringing is one of the major causes of examination malpractice in Nigeria today.
Many parents do not have time to train their children in the right way because of work and busyness. And the parents who have the time to teach their children taught them in the wrong way. Lack of proper home training has caused some students to engage in examination malpractices because they don’t find anything wrong with it.

4. High Level of Poverty

Indeed, poverty makes some students engage in examination malpractices because education and schooling require parents to spend money on their children.
Some parents could not afford to buy textbooks, novels, and other necessary materials for their children. This leads to the students cheating in examinations.

5. Bad Government Practices

The government is the body controlling the educational sector from nursery schools to tertiary institutions. If the government engages in some bad practices, it will affect the education sector.

A corrupt government will produce corrupt officials. This will lead to students engaging in examination malpractices.

Why? Because teachers, lecturers, and education officials are involved in these illegal practices too.

6. Teacher’s Attitude To Work

Here is another cause of examination malpractices many people are not talking about. Teachers’ bad attitude to work enhances the high rate of examination malpractices in Nigeria.

Some teachers or lecturers are indeed lazy to teach students in class as they ought to.
For instance, some teachers or lecturers have not covered the quarter (1/4) of the syllabus they are supposed to teach for a term or semester.

Yet they set out questions on every topic in the syllabus for the students in the exam. How do you expect them to pass? Some of the students will settle to cheat in exams.

*Solutions To Examination Malpractices In Tertiary Institutions*

Here are some of the solutions to eradicate the problem of examination malpractices:

1. Good Parental Upbringing

“Charity begins at home,” they say. If we are going to eradicate examination malpractices, it must begin at home. Parental upbringing contributes a lot to these illegal acts in exams. So, it is the role of the parents to give their children proper home training and teach the against examination malpractices.

A student with solid home training will not engage in these improper activities in exams.

2. Punishment of Students

Another practical and effective solution to examination malpractices in Nigeria is to punish students found engaging in illegal acts during exams.

Other students will take caution when they know there is severe punishment for any illegal misconduct during exams. This will help to reduce examination malpractices gradually in schools today.

3. Good School Management

Good school management includes good quality teaching, good equipment and facilities, a conducive environment, adequate study materials, and so on. This will help students pay more attention in class and be more serious with their studies.

4. Increment In The Salaries Of Teachers

Teachers and lecturers should be appreciated for their hard work and rewarded equally.
This will make them the right attitude to work and carry out their duties accordingly. Also, an increment in the salaries of teachers will reduce examination malpractices in Nigeria.

5. Government Should Encourage Education

The government has a role to play in eradicating examination malpractices in Nigeria.
The government should encourage and spend more on education. It should provide more facilities and equipment and other necessary things for schools.

Examination malpractice is very alarming in Nigeria. This act is reducing our national integrity and values.
The government, teachers, parents, and students have roles to play in eradicating these illegal acts in schools during exams. To avoid being a victim of examination malpractice as a student, certain measures should also be put in place:

1. Study and prepare thoroughly: The best way to excel in exams is to study diligently and understand the subject matter. Establish a study routine, and review class notes, textbooks, and relevant resources. Seek clarification from teachers or classmates if there are any doubts or difficulties.

2. Develop effective study techniques: Explore different study techniques and find the ones that work best for you. This may include creating flashcards, summarizing information in your own words, teaching concepts to others, or participating in study groups. Understanding the material deeply will reduce the temptation to cheat.

3. Manage time effectively: Plan your study schedule well in advance of the exams. Break down your subjects into manageable portions and allocate specific time slots for each. By managing your time effectively, you can reduce the need for last-minute cramming.

By following these guidelines, students can maintain academic integrity, foster personal growth, and achieve success through their efforts. These are certain truths that every student needs to be reminded of from time to time; because if efforts are not geared toward managing the examinations in schools,  The nation would end up producing half-baked graduates. After all, it is just a building on a false foundation.

Owonikoko Eniola is an HND 1 student in Mass Communication.