EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE AND IT'S EFFECT ON THE NIGERIAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE AND IT’S EFFECTS ON THE NIGERIAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

Examination malpractice refers to any form of illegal, undue, or unfair means utilized by people(mostly students and teachers) to scale through the perceived “hurdle” of examination.

The rate at which students in secondary and tertiary institutions of learning now engage in examination malpractice is quite alarming and disheartening.Both teachers and even the school authorities are now the main actors in the facilitation of examination practices.In secondary schools today, it is a common occurrence to see students having sexual affairs with teachers in exchange for good grades.It is also common to see the school authorities facilitating ways and methods for students to engage in examination malpractices.For instance, during public examinations like WASSCE and NECO, some school authorities reportedly facilitate ways for answers to be dictated to the students inside the examination hall, or bribe the supervisors to permit the students to engage in malpractices.

Similarly, in our tertiary institutions today, it is very common to see lecturers having sexual affairs with their students in exchange for good grades.

Apart from the means mentioned above, the students themselves have developed their own means of cheating in examination halls.It is very common during exams to see students sharing topics among themselves for each person to read in preparation for communications in the examination hall.This method is commonly called various names by students such as:electric current, tactics, e.t.c.

Another form can be seen in the idea of writing answers on on strategic parts of the body like the palm, wrist, laps, e.t.c or even smuggle in papers, notes and textbooks into the examination venue.

REASONS FOR EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE

1)                  Lack of preparations:Many students today don’t actually start reading untill few days to the examinations.Some students, as a matter of fact, won’t know of the recommended texts and materials until few hours before the exams.With no options, they resort to examination malpractices.

2)                  Parental pressure:Many students are under pressure to attain excellent grades from their parents, relatives, peers, and neighbours and in a bid to achieve this, they see malpractice as the only way.

3)                  Lack of self confidence:Some people have this belief that no matter how hard they study, they can never pass.In other words, examination malpractice is very essential for them to pass.

EFFECTS OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICES ON THE NIGERIAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

As we all know, a house built on a weak foundation cannot last.In the country today, we find people struggling in their places of work, attributed to the fact that they built their career on a weak platform.Teachers who claim to have obtained a B.ED find it difficult to teach primary school pupils, talk less of secondary students.

Also, the Nigerian educational standard has begun to drop because of examination malpractice.students who were “beneficiaries” of examination malpractices would find it hard to compete with students from other places.

In conclusion, it is my view that students should have positive attitudes towards examinations.Lecturers and teachers should also resist the temptation of money and sex in exchange for good grades.