CAUSES AND EFFECT OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE AMONG STUDENTS OF COLLAGE OF EDUCATION

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

The issue of examination malpractice has become a rampant phenomenon which has led to problem of educational system, of the in Nigeria today. It has eaten so deep into every aspect of the economy because education is the bedrock upon which any country or society can be developed. In fact many educational authorities of Nigeria school are now with the mentally that the best way to make their students to excel is by cheating in examination. In Nigeria, the educational system and other systems are in crisis ridden. Some recent researches have shown that the majority of students who gained admissions in tertiary institutions in Nigeria are products of examination malpractice (Emaikwu & Eba, 2007). Maduemezia (1998) reported that the first examination malpractice in Nigeria occurred in 1914 during the Senior Cambridge Local Examination papers which were leaked before the scheduled date of examination. The National Universities Commission (NUC) rose up to tackle this menace, which has eaten up the education system of the country by declaring War Against Sorting (WAS) in Nigeria Universities. As the body identified sorting, which could be in the form of money, gift items or sex as the cankerworm eating up the quality of the education system. Thus, the commission has directed all universities to mount aggressive awareness campaign against exam malpractice and its consequence on campuses and also to set up committee with the sole objective of eradicating academic vices in their university. Examination can be defined as an illegal or unethical behaviour by somebody in the process as   examination ability or knowledge. It can also be stated as any means which a student device to pass an examination. Oluya and Daramola (1992) defined examination malpractice as any irregular behaviour exhibited by a candidate or any body charged with the conduct of examination before, during or after the examination which contravene the rules and regulation governing the conduct of such examination. The incidence of examination malpractice, has witnessed increasing trend and this is invariably due to the candidates’ fear of failure, lack of confidence, inadequate preparation and laziness. The bad habit has eaten very deep into our society. Infact examination malpractice is a cankerworm that portends graver danger for the nation; however, examination plays a very important role in our educational system. It is used for the measurement and evaluation of students. Examination provides the learners with knowledge of his/her achievement in relation to desire objective. Thus acting as reinforcement and enabling him/her to take whatever remedial action may be needed. It is also used to diagnose learner’s difficulties, weakness and deficiencies in learning. It offers the learners a realistic awareness of his intellectual status among his peers. In fact, in Nigeria examination is currently used in predicting students’ future academic behaviour. Actually examination can be used in so many other areas, but today this monster (examination malpractice) has destroyed educational system of instructing or training the young people on how to develop and use their mental, and physical power. Examination malpractice has planted the seed of unethical values in the fertile mind of the students. The problematic phenomenon has a free region amount to support and enabling our environment to get destroyed where by our future leaders, such as doctors, civil servants, bankers, politician, accountants, journalists, professor are forced on the fraudulent foundation of examination malpractice. This has serious social political and economical consequences not just for a country but also for the world at large. But educational system must rise above moral decadence since it holds the only hope for the transportation of the youths and for the future of political, social and economic sanity.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The researcher noticed the rate increase in students’ involvement in examination malpractice in higher institution is alarming. From the background of the study it has also been discovered that examination plays a prominent roles in our educational system. Since it holds the only hope for the transformation of the youths and serves as the medium in which Nigeria used in predicting a student’s future academic behaviour, examination has to be dealt with. The major problem of examination malpractice in College of Education, Warr, Delta State is a case study of this research is that most of their time in worldly pleasure. And thereby planned on they can cheat in examination because they have not really face the deadly consequences of examination malpractice.

PURPOSE OF STUDY

The purpose of this study includes the following;

1. To examine the causes of examination malpractice.
2. To find out the method students used in examination hall.
3. To know the effects of examination malpractice.
4. To know the result of examination malpractice on the students at present, future and on the society in general.
5. To suggest positive remedies to combat the problem, of examination malpractice.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work when completed will be of great value to the students and lecturers of College of Education, Warr, Delta State. The students will equally contribute much in creating awareness and educating others about inherent in examination malpractice. Also it will assist them to know how to find possible solutions to examination malpractice.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Although most schools in Nigeria are involved in one or more terms of examination malpractice, this study is limited to College of Education, Warr, Delta State. The school is a higher institution for learning with large number of students.

RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

H₀: involvement in examination malpractice does not lead to expulsion from school

H₁: involvement in examination malpractice does lead to expulsion from school

H₀²: examination malpractice does not lead to a fall in the standard of educational system in Nigeria

H₂: examination malpractice does lead to a fall in the standard of educational system in Nigeria

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Malpractice: it is any action which makes it possible to use examination in determining the level of students’ ability or it is any act of wrong doing which contradict the rules and regulation of examination.

Examination: can be defined as the assessment of students to ascertain to what extent they have benefited from the teaching of their teachers in given subject.

Giraffe: this is the involvement of one examiner turning or stretching neck to read or check the script of another examiner with the aim of copying.

ECOMOG: (mass cheating): this is a massive agreement among candidates to assist one another in the examination hall.

IWETIE: this is collusion between candidates and officials, where candidates make advance monetary or material inducement to examiners or officials for undue favour.

Assault and intimidation: these are practices whereby the candidates create confusion and commotion to create conducive atmosphere for their time.

Tattoo: is an act of writing on palm, lap, or any part of the body there after referred to such writing inside the examination hall.

• ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

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