Okorie (1984), examination malpractice is one of the
causes of poor performance of students in (SSCE). It has affected the
educational system deeply that one time in 1977, the federal Military
Government of Nigeria set-up the justice subgenre, tribunal to handle all
causes of examination malpractice identifying the causes, and make
recommendation to the government. The said examination malpractices do appear
in different form.
For example, cheating in examination hall,
impersonation, going in search of paper from WACE officials, bringing inside
the hall materials relating to examination to be taken, this will be in
turn
deviate their mind from reading their books and based their attention and minds
on examination malpractice.
This go a long way inhabiting their performance in
(SSCE), because, at times, WACE officials might be strike on bringing out the
question paper for the student, in that process they will all fall. Examination
malpractices in secondary schools has assumed alarming proposition in recent
times. Students no longer study their books but rely on examination
malpractices to pass their exam to a large extent it has become a societal
problem that has defile solution. This is become almost all the stakeholders
are in one way or the other involved in this trend. This means that the
students, the teachers, the parents are all involved. This is why it has become
almost impossible to stop examination malpractices in secondary schools, for
instance there are cases where some parents purchase examination question
papers for their wards. This may sound incredible but that is the stark reality
of our times. In the same vein there are cases where some principal even
organize massive examination malpractices during external examination the SSCE
or NECO for their students. There are also some cases where teachers are bribed
by either the student or the parents to indulge examination malpractice.
This has consistently remained a bane of Nigerian
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.
The major causes of examination malpractices are
laziness of students, a situation where seriousness is thrown to the wind by
many students. Most of them have little time for their studies while spend
their time attending parties and forming groups who engage in mischievous
activities. There is large population of students in many schools but the few
who do very well may be promoted into higher class. Students cheat therefore to
excel over their mates. Many students are desperate thinking that passing the
examination is a do or die affair. They want to excel by all means. Some want
promises from parents fulfilled other wanted to be on TV or newspaper as the
best in one form of examination of the other.
Syllabus in many subjects such as physics, chemistry
etc is wide and difficult for teachers to cover and the school period is
shortened by holidays, shift system and late resumption by students, inadequate
preparation for exams. In a number of schools the teacher are few and
specialized ones are fewer so students are not adequately prepared for the
examination.
Lastly
there is a general trend in our society towards cheating and this is encouraged
by almost all members of the population. The evil effects of examination
malpractices cannot be over emphasized, crating and resourcefulness are
hampered. It wreaks great havoc on the social, religious, economic and
political lives of Nigerian. Employees are engaged in job they are not suited
for since the certificate they claim to possess are not merited.