You’re probably familiar with the issue of examination malpractice in Nigeria. Every year, students cheat their way to high grades, and then they go on to compete with those who actually studied and earned their grades the honest way. This has led to a generation of unqualified graduates who are unable to compete in the global job market.
Something needs to be done about this problem, and we believe we have the solution. In this article, we’ll discuss the best solutions and how they can help reduce examination malpractice in Nigeria. We hope you’ll read it and share it with your friends and family.
Defining Examination Malpractice
Examination malpractice, as the name suggests, is any form of cheating or wrongdoing during an examination. It includes, but is not limited to, cheating on exams, copying during exams, using unfair ways to pass exams, and impersonation.
The problem of examination malpractice in Nigeria is a serious one. According to a study conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), about 60% of students who sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) every year engage in one form of examination malpractice or another.
This is a huge problem, as it means that many students are not getting a fair chance at education. Not only that, but it also means that those who do cheat often end up getting good grades, while those who don’t cheat are often left behind.
Forms of examination malpractice
The forms of examination malpractice are:
1. Cheating: This is the act of looking at someone else’s paper during an examination or having someone else give you answers.
2. Plagiarism: This is the act of copying someone else’s work and passing it off as your own.
3. Collusion: This is the act of working with someone else during an examination in order to get higher marks.
4. Bribery: This is the act of giving or receiving money or goods in order to influence the outcome of an examination.
5. Maladministration: This is the act of bad administration on the part of the examiners, which can include leaking exam papers or not following the correct procedures.
6. Impersonation: This is the act of pretending to be someone else in order to take an examination for them.
7. Use of unauthorized materials: This is the act of using materials that are not allowed in the examination, such as notes or textbooks.
8. Disruptive behavior: This is the act of displaying disruptive behavior during an examination, such as talking or making noise.
9. Threats and violence: This is when a student threatens a teacher or other official in order to get better grades or special treatment.
The Causes of Examination Malpractice in Nigeria
There are many causes of examination malpractice in Nigeria. Some of these are listed below. You should take a moment to read each one and see if any of them apply to you or someone you know.
- The fear of failure: This is probably the number one reason why students engage in examination malpractice. They are so afraid of failing that they would rather cheat than face the possibility of not passing.
- Ignorance: Some students do not know that cheating is wrong. They think it’s just a way to get ahead.
- Pressure from parents and teachers: In some cases, parents and teachers put so much pressure on students to succeed that they turn to cheating as a way to relieve the pressure.
- Poor grades: When a student sees that he or she is getting poor grades, they may be tempted to cheat in order to raise their grades.
- Laziness: Some students are just too lazy to do the work themselves and would rather cheat than actually study for the test.
- Desperation: In some cases, students have no other choice but to cheat because they cannot afford to fail the exam.
- Influence of friends: Friends can be a powerful influence on students. If your friends are into cheating, you may be more likely to do it too.
- Money: Some students are offered money to cheat on exams.
- Poor parental guidance: In some families, parents do not provide proper guidance to their children. As a result, the children are left to fend for themselves and make their own decisions, which can lead to cheating.
Also, the home environment is chaotic. A chaotic home environment can also lead to cheating. If there is a lot of fighting and chaos at home, children may feel like they have to cheat in order to get ahead. - Poor school management and staff: Examination malpractice in Nigeria is caused by a lot of different things. Some of these are things that the student has no control over, while others are choices that the student makes. No matter what the cause, cheating is wrong and should not be tolerated.
The Effects of Examination Malpractice in Nigeria
There are many effects of examination malpractice in Nigeria. Some of these effects are:
1. The quality of education is reduced. This is because the students who cheated in school get high grades, which affects the overall performance of the school.
2. The credibility of Nigerian certificates is reduced. This is because so many people have cheated and gotten good grades without deserving them.
3. The morale of honest students is affected. This is because they feel that they are working hard while others are cheating and getting good grades.
4. The economy is affected. This is because so much money is wasted on examination malpractice.
5. It promotes corruption. This is because people who help students cheat get bribes from them.
6. It affects the students. This is because some students use fake certificates to get into universities, and they do not have the required qualifications to study the courses they are enrolled in, which eventually leads to their dropping out of school or completing the courses with very poor grades.
7. It affects the future of Nigeria. This is because most of our leaders were once cheaters, and if this trend continues, Nigeria will not have any future leaders who are honest and hardworking.
8. It affects the development of Nigeria. This is because a lot of potential is wasted when people use fake certificates to get jobs that they are not qualified for.
9. Finally, it destroys the moral values of our society.
The Best Solutions to Examination Malpractice in Nigeria
The best solutions to examination malpractice in Nigeria are not going to be found in a single silver bullet. It is going to take a concerted and sustained effort from all stakeholders to address the root causes of the problem. We need to start by changing the way we think about exams, we need to stop putting so much emphasis on exams and start focusing on the quality of education our students are receiving, we need to raise the bar for our students and prepare them for a future that doesn’t revolve around exams, we need to invest in our students and give them the tools they need to succeed.
The first step is to make sure that the students are properly prepared for their exams. This means giving them the tools they need to do well, like books, teachers, and classrooms.
The second step is to increase transparency and accountability in the examination process. This can be done by ensuring that examinations are well-designed and fair, and that there is no favoritism or corruption in the marking process.
The third step is to provide incentives for students to do well in their examinations. This could include financial rewards, scholarships, and recognition in the community.
The fourth step is to raise awareness of the consequences of examination malpractice. This could be done through campaigns in schools, churches, and the media.
The fifth step is to create a culture of learning in Nigeria. This can be promoted by valuing education and promoting lifelong learning.
Other solutions include:
Good parental upbringing
Parental upbringings play a significant role in the fight against examination malpractice. In order for a child to have a future, they must be brought up in an enabling environment where their parents or guardians instill the importance of getting a good education in them.
Some of the things that can be done to ensure this are: inculcating the habit of reading in children from a very young age, making them understand that books are their best friends and not enemies, providing them with all the necessary materials they need for their school work; encouraging and motivating them to always do their best, letting them know that they can achieve anything they set their minds to, and finally, monitoring their academic progress closely and offering help where needed.
With this kind of upbringing, children will grow up seeing education as something that is very important and worth fighting for, which in turn will make them stay away from examination malpractice.
Good school management
Good school management means having a good and proactive relationship with the students, teachers, and parents.
The first step is to get the students on your side. A lot of times, students engage in examination malpractice because they feel like they’re not being heard or they’re not being given the attention they need. So, make sure you’re communicating with them regularly and that you’re available to them when they need you.
Teachers also need to feel like they’re part of the solution. They need to know that you value their input and that you’re working with them to find solutions. Lastly, keep the parents in the loop. They need to know what’s going on with their kids and how you’re working to solve the problem of examination malpractice.
By taking these steps, you can create a good school environment where everyone feels valued and supported, which is vital in the fight against examination malpractice.
Increment of Teacher’s Salary
You will agree with me that a lot of teachers in Nigeria are not paid well. Some are even owed salaries spanning several months. This has made a lot of them engage in all sorts of examination malpractices so as to make ends meet.
The Nigerian government needs to do something urgently about this. They need to increase the salaries of teachers and also make sure they are paid promptly. This will go a long way in reducing the incidence of examination malpractice in Nigeria.
Provision of Qualified Teachers
You need to provide qualified teachers who will value the importance of education and will be able to effectively impart knowledge to the students. Teachers who are passionate about their work tend to be more effective in their teaching, which in turn produces better results from the students. In order to achieve this, you need to ensure that all teachers are qualified and have the required certification from relevant authorities. You also need to carry out regular training and development programs for all teachers so that they can keep up with the latest trends in education.
Improved supervision in examination halls
One of the best ways to improve supervision in examination halls is through the use of CCTV cameras. With the aid of CCTV cameras, invigilators can monitor the activities of students in the examination hall without being physically present.
The CCTV camera would also serve as a form of deterrent to potential exam malpractice offenders. The knowledge that their activities are being monitored would make them think twice before engaging in any form of cheating.
It is important to note that the installation of CCTV cameras should be done in such a way that it does not infringe on the privacy of students. The data that the CCTV cameras collect should also be kept safe so that it can’t be used wrongly.
Offenders Should Face Serious Penalties
The severity of the penalties is directly proportional to the negative effects of the crime. When the crime is as severe as examination malpractice, the penalties must also be severe in order to effectively deter people from committing the crime. Some of the severe penalties that could be imposed for examination malpractice include:
1. Automatic failure of the exam: This is perhaps the most common penalty imposed for examination malpractice. It is also the most effective in deterring people from committing the crime.
2. Suspension from school: This is another common penalty for examination malpractice. It is especially effective in deterring students from committing the crime.
3. Revocation of scholarships: This is a severe penalty that is sometimes imposed for examination malpractice. It is effective in deterring people from committing the crime.
4. Imprisonment: This is the most severe penalty that can be imposed for examination malpractice. It is very effective in deterring people from committing the crime.
The penalties for examination malpractice in Nigeria should be severe. Cheating is a serious offense and is not taken lightly by the Nigerian government.
Incentives for those who report malpractice cases
There needs to be more incentive for those who report cases of examination malpractice. As it stands, many people are afraid to come forward because they fear reprisal or retribution from the people who are involved in the malpractice.
If we want to stamp out examination malpractice, we need to create an environment where people feel safe coming forward and reporting what they know. One way to do this is by offering financial incentives for those who provide information that leads to the conviction of those involved in malpractice.
By offering these kinds of incentives, we can encourage more people to come forward with information about examination malpractice and ultimately help put an end to this problem.
Adoption of computer-based examination
The adoption of computer-based examinations is one of the best solutions to examination malpractice in Nigeria. This is because it will help reduce the amount of time spent monitoring and invigilating students during examinations. In addition, it will also help to reduce the cost of printing and distributing examination materials. Furthermore, computer-based examinations will also help to improve the quality of examinations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is evident that the best solutions to examination malpractice in Nigeria are to be found in the reorientation of the Nigerian educational system as a whole. This would include a review of the curriculum to make it more skill-based and less focused on rote learning. In addition, better funding and resources need to be put into the education system so that teachers are better paid and have the resources they need to do their jobs properly. Finally, a change in the way that examinations are conducted so that they are more skills-based and less reliant on rote learning would also be beneficial
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