COUNSELLING: A STRONG TOOL FOR CHECKING EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE AND COPING WITH EXAMINATION ANXIETY

COUNSELLING: A STRONG TOOL FOR CHECKING EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE AND COPING WITH EXAMINATION ANXIETY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

Evidence abound of increasing incidents  of  examination  malpractices  by  students  at schools and colleges; which conflict with the core purpose of education – the training of the mind  and  character  for  the  acquisition  of  practical  and  theoretical  skills,  knowledge  and functional ideas for development; and the search for truth and knowledge and the creation and communication of ideas (Nanna, 1997; Peterson, 1988, as cited in Aaron, 1992).

Education in the general sense covers the whole life of an individual from birth till death or from cradle to grade that shows that education is as old as man 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 in existence a system of education. This was broadly traditional, occupationally oriented and informal apprenticeship system. This type of education as at that time was relevant to the needs of the society. The advent and influence of the Christian missionary activities affected a change from the informal system of education to the western oriented type of education. Preference was no longer for hardwork but acquisition of certificate. Every achievement or goal oriented tasks a certification of schooling. However, examinations play vital roles not only in our educational system but also in the society as a whole. 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, the senior school certificate examination and the degree or diploma examinations. Students are required to pass any forms of examinations they partake in. But these days students now find various means of achieving success in these examinations and one of such ways is by cheating 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 usual 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.