Causes, Effect and Solution to Examination Malpractice in Nigeria

Nigeria, a beautiful country who have produced individuals like Philip Emeagwali, a known computer scientist, Okonjo Iweala, the current director of the World Trade Organization, and many more, who we could not mention, has however in recent years be battling with a canalism and disease eating up the Education sector which has produced these genius and this canakiform is not other than examination Malpractice.

Examination malpractice in recent years has become a widespread occurrence across Nigeria as a whole, and it has evolved into a Trojan virus that is crippling all levels of Education in Nigeria, from the primary level to the highest level of Education.

While most Nigerians point to weak government policies, there are other causes of examination malpractice, and it is widespread. Based on the 2018/2019 report by WAEC, almost 77% of the candidates who sat down for the WAEC examination were involved in examination malpractice in Nigeria, which is a whopping number, with only 23% not involved in examination malpractice, and the numbers are increasing yearly across all levels of examination conducted across Nigeria.

The issue of examination malpractice in Nigeria is just like a nation sitting on keg powder that would soon explode when not addressed. We will explore the causes, solutions, and effects of examination malpractice, not unchecked or unattended by parents, government, and Education authorities.

Causes of Examination Malpractice in Nigeria.

The causes of examination malpractice are attributed to the parents, government, and the factors, and this will be discussed below.

1. Poor Preparation/Laziness

It is a common trait, especially among Nigerian students, but not all of them. Students are mostly not prepared for examinations and always find ways to give excuses to cover up for their not being prepared, and this results in consequences. When faced with exams and with the pressures to pass, they often resort to examination malpractice by bribing officials or coming into the examination with Electronic gadgets like phones.

2. Corrupt Practices By School Officials

The underlying causes of examination malpractice are a result of corrupt practices by school officials who are meant to prevent such things. The school officials, who are often mostly bribed with cash and other benefits, often leave students to do as they please in the examination hall.

3. Lack of Strict Enforcement.

Lack of strict enforcement regarding examinations is usually prevalent in Nigeria, especially for students in secondary school, while the efforts of higher education institutions like Universities, Polytechnic or College of Education are still noticed toward the attitude of examination malpractice and often met with punishment like expulsion or suspension, these are mostly ignored in secondary schools.

4. Overcrowded Examination Hall

Nigerian Examination halls are mostly overcrowded and packed with a lot of students with no little space in between the line of rows for invigilators to walk through. This overcrowding makes it difficult for the invigilator to navigate through the examination effortlessly and, in effect, detect any examination malpractice

5. Cultural Acceptance

The culture of where children are advised to read their books to pass exams in Nigeria is fast fading away, with many parents not encouraging their children to read for the exam, and even assisting their children in engaging in examination malpractice in order to pass the exam.

6. Consistent Strikes and the Pressure to pass exam

Nigeria’s Higher education institutions, which include the Universities, Polytechnic and College of Education are mostly disrupted by consistent strikes, which often disrupt the academic calendar, and when the school finally resume students are mostly rushed to cover lost days which result to students not understand most of the questions set during examination and to face the pressure result to examination malpractice.

7. Technology Missue

The same gadgets provided to students to ease their studies and provide them with more information are often misused by the same students in the examination hall.

Effects of Examination malpractice in Nigeria.

While examination malpractice is unchecked and left to prevail in a society. Some of the causes are;

• Incompetent Graduate

It has become a norm among Nigerians that a degree does not matter anymore, and this is true as some graduates who possess any kind of Educational qualification can not do the job they are taught in school because they don’t even read or understand this, but they pass mostly because of examination malpractice.

• Increased Corruption

Examination malpractice often breeds corruption. “The quote which says a lion can not give to sheep “ is correct. A student who engaged in examination malpractice to pass the examination will definitely engage in corruption if even appointed as a leader in the country or in society.

• Loss of National Prestige.

When examination malpractice is rampant in a country and it is left unchecked, this usually leads to loss of national prestige, as other nations will not trust the credibility of the nation’s certificates.

• Disciplinary Actions

With examination malpractice unchecked in the primary and secondary school level days, these same students still carry the same mindset to higher Educational institutions like University, College, or Education or polytechnic, and are mostly caught in the act, which mostly leads to expulsion, suspension, or being sent out of the school.

• Physological Impact on Honest and Hardworking Students.

With unchecked examination malpractice rampant among Nigerian Students, the hardworking and honest students in recent years might become discouraged and eventually give up on reading books and preparing for exams, since their effort most of the time might become unnoticed.

• Economic Consequences

Employers who have not vetted the employees they employ most times might hire underqualified staff, which most times affects productivity across all levels of jobs, be it federal or private corporations.

• Devaluation of Education

Examination malpractice usually devalues Education so much that certificates no longer carry the weight it is supposed to carry because of a lack of credibility amongst citizens and across the nation.

Best Solution to Examination Malpractice in Nigeria

It is too late for a solution. Even with the rampant examination malpractice in Nigeria, this can be fixed with the help of government agencies, parents, and the examination bodies.

Below are the best solutions that can fix examination malpractice in Nigeria

1. Strict Enforcement of Exam Rules

Strict enforcement of examination rules should be applied across all levels of examination held across many states in Nigeria.

While the higher education institutions are still up to par in the strict enforcement of examinations, there are still lapses that can be addressed by deploying more vigilant invigilators and using CCTV cameras in examination halls, as is done in most advanced countries.

2. Use of Technology to Detect Cheating

Biometric Verification should be implemented across examinations, and Technology should be implemented in order to detect electronic devices being brought inside examination halls. Electronic devices like pagers and other electronic gadgets can mostly be detected by detecting Technology.

3. Improve Teaching and Learning Environment

Adequate study materials should be provided to students on basis to ease their learning, reduce overcrowding in examination halls by building adequate infrastructure to accommodate more students, and the quality of education should be improved across the state.

A better salary should be paid to teachers and examination invigilators as well, to meet their expenses and thereby curb corruption.

4. Promote a Culture of Honesty and Hardwork

The culture of honesty and hard work should be encouraged among students. Debate and competition should be held on a basis, and participants should be rewarded.

Academic excellence should be rewarded to students who excel in different aspects of study, and also awards of the best students should be given daily, with a reasonable amount of cash given to the students.

5. Severe Penalties For Offenders

This is notable in most higher-level Education in Nigeria, where at a certain level is a strict penalty for examination malpractice, going as far as expulsion, suspension from the institution, and forbidding them from writing examinations either for a semester or a whole session.

When severe penalties for examination malpractice offenders are implemented, this will reduce the effect on students and encourage them to study more.

6. Parental and Community Involvement

Parents should encourage their wards in preparation for exams and incorporate the habit of reading among their children. The community as a whole should encourage its children to read and prepare for examinations.

7. Educating Students on Long-term Consequences of Examination Malpractice

Frequent Education of students about examination malpractice and the results that usually follow in the short and long-term periods.

When students are educated daily about examination malpractice, they will mostly not listen or adhere to the teaching.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS(FAQS)

What is Examination Malpractice in Nigeria

Examination malpractice in Nigeria can be termed as unethical practices that are done in exam halls, which can include cheating, using phones, and talking to other students

What are the main causes of examination malpractice in Nigeria

Main causes of examination malpractice in Nigeria include poor preparation by students, lack of strict enforcement, and a weak academic calendar.

What are the Solutions to reduce Examination Malpractice in Nigeria

Solution to examination malpractice in Nigeria includes strict enforcement of examination rules, educating the students, and promoting a culture of hard work and honesty.

What are the Penalties for Students Caught Cheating in Nigeria

Expulsion and suspension from school for a semester or session.

Conclusion

We can’t leave examination malpractice unchecked, as this is detrimental and it is harmful for the country’s growth and prosperity. Parents, the government, the education authority, and religious authority leaders should also contribute to helping curb the examination malpractice in Nigeria as a whole.