A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS ON EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS (A CASE STUDY OF KADUNA STATE)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Education in the general sense of the word covers the whole life of any individual from birth up until death shows that education is as old as man’s existence on earth. The formal school system is greatly influenced in its result on the lives of all who pass through it.
In Nigeria before the 1840’s there was a system of education that has been in existence. This was basically traditional, occupationally oriented and informal apprenticeship system. This type of education as at the time was of high relevance to the needs of the society. The advent and influence of the Christian missionary activities in Nigeria aected a change from the informal system of education to the western oriented type of education. Preference was no longer for hard work but acquisition of certificate. Fortunately or unfortunately every achievement or goal oriented tasks a certification/qualification of schooling.
However, examinations play essential roles not only in our educational system but also in the society at large. The society demands from its members a diversity of specialized functions. In the Nigerian school system various forms of examinations are noticed. These are the entrance examinations, the terminal and promotion examinations and most especially the senior school certificate examination. Students are required to pass any forms of examinations they partake in to be seen as being successful. But these days students now find various means of achieving success in these examinations and one of such ways is by indulging in examination
malpractice in examinations through leakage in examination papers, impersonation, external assistance, copying, smuggling of foreign materials, substitution of script and improper assignment.
The fact remains that examination malpractice has become a common practice in Nigeria. Examination has been recognized as forming the nucleus of education without which the enterprise will be incomplete. Empiricism shows that examinations indicate the extent of factual knowledge acquired by students, predict future educational achievement and provide a means of selecting suitable candidates for certain educational courses or occupation. One of the principal aim of examination is to assess how much learning has taken place and to what extent the educational objectives and goals have been achieved. One serious problem plaguing Nigeria system of education today is large examination malpractice coupled with intellectual dishonesty. Our pupils and students devise as a daily routine, new tricks to beat genuine supervisors and examiners.The incidence of examination malpractice is multi dimensional in nature. Smuggling of textbooks or prepared notes into examination hall. They insult,embarrass, threaten and even assault invigilators and supervisors who failed to co-operate with them in their unholy and nefarious acts.
