CAUSES OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS (CASE STUDY OF ENUGU EDUCATION ZONE OF ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA)
ABSTRACT
This study is focused on the causes of examination malpractice among secondary school students in Enugu Education zone of Enugu State. It had become a general view to accept that the last two decades have witnessed high rate of several incidents of examination misconduct; more especially at post primary education level. According to Olatunbosum (2009); every examination witness the emergence of new and tactful ways of cheating during examinations, contrary to the normal view which assumes that examination is a formal test of somebody’s knowledge or ability in a particular subject; especially by means of answering questions or practical exercises. For detailed analysis, the above topic had been discussed under various headings and sub-headings which are categorized into chapters. For instances, chapter one introduces the subject matter of the research work; chapter two is mainly literature review, in which, the interest of students towards their studies as well as availability of teaching facilities among other things were discussed. Chapter three discuss the research methodology, while chapter four and five were based on data analysis and representation, discussion on findings, summary of findings, conclusion, implications of the study, recommendation as well as suggestion for further study.
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study Sulaiman (2008) opined that one of the objectives of education in Nigeria is to prepare the young one to them to meet the nation’s man power requirements. He also opined that schools need to conduct examinations face future challenges and developas yard stick for assessment. According to him, examination is a formal test of some body’s knowledge or ability in a particular subject; especially by means of answering questions or practical exercises. Examination is also seen as the process through which students are evaluated or tested to find out the quality of knowledge they have acquired within a specified period of study.
According to Olujuwon (2004), the Nigeria educational system is in a state of confusion and disarray. This is as a result of inconsistence and non-implementation of educational policies, corruption and corrupt practices perpetrated by the stake – holders. There had been a clarion call by all and sundry to re-examine and appraise the educational system in line with current trends.
Aisha, (2009) is of the view that examination malpractices have consistently remained a bane of Nigeria 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. In the opinion of Aisha (2009), Examination malpractice is an illegal behaviour by a candidate before, during or after the examination so that he/she attains success easily and cheaply. Sulaimon (2008) is of the view that examination malpractice is a kind of conduct that violates the acceptable laid down rules and regulations of Nigerian Institutions. He further explained that examination malpractice is any wrong doing before, during or after any examination.
According to Suleimon (2008), education, which is a very important tool of nation building, is not given the adequate attention it deserves; as the sector is not funded adequately, no proper plan and policies that will provide the kind of leadership that is required in the sector to enable the system achieve the desired objectives. Teacher’s welfare is not properly taken care of, public schools are left without basic infrastructural development needed to stimulate learning, no proper monitoring; as most of the examination bodies are not closely monitored. So, examination malpractice has become world- wide problem, for instance, a Ghanianian, Rex Annan, Kumasi of 13th April, 2007 explained that in recent times in Ghana, the occurrences of examination malpractice had assumed an alarming trend; and that was invariably due to candidate fear of failure, lack of confidence, laziness and inadequate preparation and most often their inability to apply themselves to their studies.
However understood the examination malpractices had become a world-wide problem among students, the researchers are seriously concerned in making effort to discover the cause of this problem-especially among: secondary school students within Enugu educational zone of Enugu state, Nigeria.
