Causes And Effects Of Examination Malpractice In Society

Causes And Effects Of Examination Malpractice In Society  Examination malpractice is one of the issues plaguing our education system in Nige...

Causes And Effects Of Examination Malpractice In Society 

Examination malpractice is one of the issues plaguing our education system in Nigeria. And in order to provide a long-term remedy, it is necessary to understand the causes and effects in secondary schools, postsecondary institutions, and society.

What exactly is Examination Malpractice?

Dr. Malami Umar Tambawal defined it as "any deliberate act of wrongdoing, contrary to the rules of examinations, designed to give a candidate an unfair advantage or capable of frequently placing a candidate at a disadvantage."  It is evident from this description that if malpractice is permitted, some pupils will have an unfair edge over others. This is not something that should be supported.

Examination, according to the Oxford living dictionaries, is a formal test of a person's knowledge or proficiency in a subject or ability.

It is all about putting your knowledge, insight, and skill in a subject to the test. The purpose is not to frighten you as a student, but to determine where you stand or your level of skill in a subject(s). If you are weak in such subject(s), this will enable you to buckle up.

Misconceptions about what an examination entails are what allow for misconduct. It's the same as going to the doctor for a checkup and learning about your health status.

We will continue to endure the consequences of examination malpractice until we begin to perceive the meaning of examination and how it is delivered with fresh eyes. According to Myles Munroe, "when the purpose of a thing is unknown, abuse is unavoidable."

Why will I want to demonstrate my mathematical ability through deception? In reality, however, I am a lousy math student. Malpractice can also be defined as falsifying your knowledge of a subject.

Despite the fact that the Examination Malpractice Act 1999 was enacted in Nigeria to address this issue, exam malpractice has continued to rise.

Exam Malpractice Types

The following are examples of misconduct in Nigeria:

1. Plagiarism: A piece of writing borrowed from someone else and presented as your own.

2. Falsification: fraudulent document alterations or forgery of data, information, or reference sources.

3. Cheating during an examination: the act of employing useful material for an exam but concealing it from the examiner. It can also refer to looking over someone's exam answers.

4. Bribery: obtaining exam questions and correct answers ahead of time or obtaining exam grades for a fee.

Examination malpractice causes

Failure of parents to be responsible

It is the responsibility of parents to teach their children how to be self-sufficient and to instill confidence in their children. Parents are not free from this societal injustice because they contribute to it.

Some parents are unconcerned about their children's academic progress, and some are even unaware of their children's proficiency in a topic. There should be a level of awareness among parents regarding their children so that they may discover solutions to any problems they may be experiencing.

An academic problem addressed early would undoubtedly assist your children develop in their studies. Students who are confident in their knowledge of a subject will not consider indulging in examination misconduct.

Inadequate educational system

One of the consequences of a failing educational system is the type of schools we now have in our society, as well as the government's poor educational policy. Most of these schools are run by businessmen who are just concerned with making money and not with how their school affects the pupils.

Because of their inability to pay for experts, the teachers engaged by these schools are of low quality, which will undoubtedly impair pupils' success in any exam. Some of these schools are even malpractice centers, where students are encouraged to commit malpractice.

When students lack the necessary information to pass the exam, there is no alternative option to succeed. Those who will have an impact on that information are underpaid and underserved. Every day, educational policy deteriorates. This has a direct impact on the pupils and instills anxiety in them; as a result of their fear, many students have turned to malpractice as a means of escape.

Environmental consideration

Our current environment celebrates examination malpractice and sees nothing wrong with it. The environment has the ability to shape and influence a youngster. And youngsters are eager to adopt the social standards of the day.

People now regard failure as a bad thing, and it is impossible to see failure from the correct perspective, therefore students will resort to any measures necessary to pass a test. No kid wants to fail because of peer pressure, and they have lost sight of the true meaning of failure (failing shows your current situation and alerts you to brace yourself and prepare better for the next challenge).

Attitudes of students

Some students are lazy and are only looking for a shortcut. They have a negative outlook on life: they do not value appropriate preparation, hard work, and absolute attention to their academics. This is a terrible mindset for any student to have since the consequences are awful.

Undue emphasis on certificate

This social abnormality is on the rise as a result of the society's high premium or value placed on certificates above abilities and professionalism.

Examination Misconduct in Nigeria: A Trend

The table and graph below depict an examination misconduct study in West African Senior Secondary School Examinations Conducted by WAEC from 2000 to 2004.

Effect of Examination Malpractice

1. A country that is academically backward due to an inability to create pupils who can think analytically, critically, and independently.

2. A nation that will be governed by the unqualified due to its failure to create leaders who are psychologically, morally, and physically prepared.

3. Students who have low self-esteem will improve.

4. Hardworking pupils will be denied opportunities since there is no level playing field for students to demonstrate their abilities.

5. The nation's economic progress will be hampered because people who can propel the economy ahead have been pushed to the back of society.

6. The unemployment rate will climb.

7. The number of students who are unable to think and solve problems independently will rise.

8. It will increase the number of kids who do not believe in their own abilities to attain success in life.

9. Malpractice has the potential to become widespread in any culture that lets it.

If there is one thing a student should avoid, it is exam misconduct. It can destroy your self-esteem, strip you of necessary skills, and render you unfit to work in a decent workplace. Working hard as a student is more profitable than engaging in examination misconduct.

The link between parents and teachers should be encouraged. Teachers should ensure that their teaching methods are learner-centered, and while grading, they should always reward students who make an effort.

Finally, all examination organizations, from primary to tertiary, should work together to devise a novel method of administering an exam that will deter any candidate who wishes to engage in test malpractice.