The nature of examination malpractice among students in Nigeria Tertiary Institution.

“The life of ease is a difficult pursuit”.

Examination malpractice in educational system is not a new thing among we Nigerian and in various institutions of learning. It has become a “canker worm” that has eaten deep down into our education system. It has also become a major challenge to examination bodies, school administrators, parents, the governments, and the private sector (bodies).

It thus tends to relegate certificates issued at different level of education. Over the years novice and experts have complained over the falling standard of education in Nigeria. The falling standard of Nigeria education has been traced to examination malpractices among the student in schools.

Majority of the students being victims of the examination malpractice is as a result of the following factors.

Poor attendance of student in class during lectures: Most students especially in this era believed in only concentrating on C.A and examination and spending most of their hour to chill out and on social media. The case has affected majority of the students and still affecting them till today which they don’t recognize. The implication or outcome of absenting while lecture was taking place, regarding this, students in this category totally rely on hand out or text books in which they not get the main idea of a particular course or field of knowledge but along the alien they end up confusing themselves because of losing some basic things vital during lectures hour.

Poor reading or studying hour: most of the students spend their reading hour chatting on social media or listening to music believing other are born intelligent not knowing that they also build themselves up. And when most of them reading they don’t always concentrating on what they are studying.

Poor conducive atmosphere: in this context, it’s a big challenge for the academicians to manage and guide with large number, this easily create room for multiple examination malpractice i.e they cannot control or organize to a standard setting that will promote sanity.

Emphasis on certificate: students, parents, school management and others tend to push harder on wards to get the certificate and good grades by all means. As a result, much value and emphasis are placed on certificate instead of knowledge, skills and competence. This is also why examination malpractice are increasing day after day for the rush to get paper qualification for jobs they possess or good grades to secure employment.

Lecturers: the lecturer is the main focus of change and the anchor in the lecturing – learning process. Lecturers are the main determinant of quality in the educational system. They therefore, have an important role to the success of any educational system. Indeed, the quality of the lecturer is perhaps the most important determinant of educational standards. Good lecturing makes learning more meaningful, interesting and understating.

Students and their level of knowledge and skill acquisition: the level of knowledge and skill acquisition of students determine their involvement in examination malpractice. More importantly, the feeling of inferiority complex to which any student that fails exam is subjected in school, at home, and in the society at large would make the student go to any length to pass examination.

The examination malpractice can be in different form and this includes:

·       Insult or assault of invigilator.

·       Connive.

·       Mass cheating.

·       Educational stakeholders assistance

·       Irregular activities during and after examination.

·       Inscription on table tops and body.

·       Using electronic materials personality connection.

·       Impersonation and so on.