THE CAUSES, EFFECTS AND SOLUTION TO EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS A CASE STUDY OF ILAJE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Education serves as a prime instrument in the development of Nigeria but the issue of malpractice has led to the problem of this system. The main purpose of examination is for certification of achievement, selection for educational and employment opportunities, quality control of the curriculum and its delivery, monitoring of educational standards and the assessment of school effectiveness. However, the occurrence of examination malpractices at any level of educational system poses the greatest threat to the certificate thereby, issued. According to Olusoji et al., (2002) examination malpractice is not a recent phenomenon neither is it peculiar to tertiary level. It has been with us in Nigeria for a long time and has now almost assumed an epidemic influence. The phenomenon increases in number, scope, and complexity. The first publicity reported case of examination malpractice in Nigeria occurred in 1914 when there was leakage of question papers in senior Cambridge local examination.

Since then there has been several cases reported but within the recent times occurred in 2009. If we consider also the cases of examination malpractices which occurred over the years within our school system as well as examinations conducted by bodies such as JAMB, NABTEB, NAEC, WAEC, NECO, NTI, and other professional bodies, it could be concluded that examination malpractice is a common daily experience. The eects of examination malpractice are very shocking to educational, economic and political development of any nation. Fibessima, (2002) identified the eect of examination malpractice as a production of half baked graduates form academic institution, retarded educational growth and development, false sense of value and impression of students capability as well as loss of confidence in candidates who are involved in examination malpractice.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The issue of examination malpractice has become a frequent practice in Ilaje Local government Area in Ondo State just it is in other states of the federation. This takes dierent forms. In order to carryout the research successfully, the following underlying problems are to be investigated:1. What is examination malpractice? 2. What are the causes of examination malpractice among students? 3. Lack of preparation amongst students for examination. 4. Effect of examination malpractice in the society.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTION

To achieve a meaningful research result, the following basic question was drawn as measure to guide the researcher in carrying but the researcher: 1. Does poor moral upbringing of students in the society cause them to engage in examination malpractice? 2. Do poor teaching habits of teachers cause students to engage in examination malpractices? 3. Could lack of preparation of students for an examination be responsible for their involvement in examination malpractice? 4. Do poor conditions under which examination are conducted such as inappropriate sitting arrangement and poor supervision cause students in examination malpractice? 5. Do most students who engage in examination malpractice perform poorly in their aer school? 6. Will a society where students are involved in examination malpractice suer lack of skill manpower?