ABSTRACT

The educational system has for long had serious hit from examination malpractice and this has brought into focus the need to tackle this issues in order of findings ways to eradicate such problems in the light of the above the study looked at examination malpractices in college of Education Ikere with the view to achieve the following objectives.

1. To find out the causes of examination malpractice in the college.

2. To find out the various means by which students use to cheat during examination

3. To investigate the effect of examination malpractice to both the students and educational system in general

4. To profound possible solutions, which could be use to eradicate the problem of examination malpractice.

To achieve these objectives the problem of examination malpractice. To achieve these objectives the survey method was used for data collection, we used questionnaire to elicit information from chose school students, the result of the data analysis showed that the main causes of examination malpractice is the strong desire to acquire a certificate well labeled and most parents encourage them on it and the method commonly used is spying and copying of answers to examination questions from fellow students and examination malpractices has brought disastrous effect on students and the educational system in Nigeria and finally, some measure to adopt in eradicating this problems is:

1. Punishing students or whoever is involved in the act.

2. Spacing of students in the hall

3. Higher payment and regular payment of salaries to supervisors and lecturers

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

Background of the study

Statement of the problem

Purpose of the study

Significance of the study

Scope of the study

Limitation of the study

Research questions

Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO

Literature review

CHAPTER THREE

Research instrument

Population

Sample

CHAPTER FOUR

Data analysis

CHAPTER FIVE

Summary

Recommendation

Conclusion

REFERENCE

QUESTIONNAIRE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Education is the development of an individual through training, transmission of what is worthwhile to the point that he is able to fit into his environment and contribute to the best of his ability for the wellbeing of the society. Our educational system uses examination to grade students in internal and external examinations in Nigeria. However, examinations are known to play very important roles in our educational system. They are used for academic stratification or for assigning grades to students in secondary schools and other institutions of learning. A students with a distinction all through in certificate examination will be regarded by those around him as academically precious. He is also likely to have a place in institution of higher learning or in job situation within the society than a child with a mere pass or a failure. All these conditions have combine to influence a student’s attitude to an examination malpractice

Olayinka (1993) defined examination malpractice as any misconduct or improper practice in any examination with a view to obtaining good results through fraudulent action. Daramola and Oluyeba (1992) define examination malpractice as an irregular behaviour exhibited by candidates or anybody charged with the conduct of examination in or outside the examination hall before, during or after such examinations. Shonekan (1996) sees it as irregularities which are premediated and perpetuated by the candidates or their agents with the intention of gaining undue advantages in the examination.

Investigations conducted by the national concord of Tuesday June, 1998 revealed how teachers help students to engage in examination malpractice, by coaching them before examination and the changing of incorrect answers afterwards. This trend according to the report is being used by the schools involved to improve their position in the performance tables, which have become a key indicator for parents choosing a school for their children. Examination malpractices renders certificates issued by examination bodies unreliable. The examination bodies lose finally, manpower in their bid to overcome examination malpractice. In view of the adverse effects that examination malpractices have on the educational system, it became necessary to critically examine it. At what stage do examination malpractice occur, what are their impact on the students themselves and on education standards?

Malpractices according to the advance oxford learners dictionary is wrong doing, neglect to duty. According to Nwana (1999) examination malpractices could be defined as behaviour contrary to a set of expected code of conduct or contrary to a set of ethic and norms exhibited in the course of examination by persons or group of persons.

The definition makes it clear that examination malpractice is not only illegal but its effect degrading and devastating. Mavan (1991) stated that in recent years the rampant occurrence of examination malpractices in several institution of learning in Nigeria have become a matter of concern to all. This statement denote that the rate at which candidates indulge in examination malpractice, examination leakage, impersonation, copying and certificate forging is alarming and it put the examination and the country as a sole in an embarrassing position, because it under estimate the quality of our educational system. The origin of examination malpractice can be traced back to (1914) when senior Cambridge local examination leaked. This was thirty-eight years before West Africa Examination Council was established in the primary school cheating and alternation of marks are quite for common malpractice is even more evident in the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), JAMB and other examination conducted by the federal ministry of education. Mark (1991) reported that the above fact was responsible for the 1987 decision by the federal ministry of education professor Jubril Aminu Mayah (1991) states that the registrar indicated the examination malpractices constitution is one of the biggest problems facing the boards.

He expressed disappointment at the way candidates despite efforts that have been made by school admission examination bodies and the government in terms of disciplinary measure in order to curb examination malpractice.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Examination malpractice has long been ion existence in our society and have been taken by different investigation on the subject and in-spite of these. Examination malpractice still thrives in our educational system. Despite the disastrous effect it has students, parents, educational system but the society at large, like

a. Cancellation of results

b. Lowering of standard when under serving students are allowed in posses requiring high standard of performance.

c. Lack of motivation or incentive to read hard in order to be successful in examination.

d. Promote laziness and laxity in schools where by students do not read their books with what have been taught.

It is the purpose of this research to inquire deeply into the causes of examination malpractice and find possible solution in order to eradicate this act from the educational system and the nation in general.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

In the course of the study the project researcher will attempt to achieve the following objectives.

1. To find out the factor responsible for examination malpractices in College of Education, Ikere

2. To examine the people involved in examination malpractice.

3. To suggest possible solution to the problem of examination malpractices in college of education and the various schools that make up the college.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study intends to find out the factors that are responsible for examination malpractice and also some possible measure to eradicate it. It will help us to shift emphasis from paper qualification on job to experience by policy making those who plan the curriculum in Nigeria will be aware of the loophole and try to fill them up. It will also furnish the school of science school of vocational and other school in college of education and the state ministry of education with information and new ideas concerning examination malpractices.

It will also help such organization as the Nigeria national council in the areas of examination malpractices.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study intends to find out the causes and some possible solution to examination malpractice in College of Education Ikere. The study is restricted to the college of education using the students, academic and non-academic staffs. The study will involve 10 academic staffs, 10 non academic staffs and one hundred students drawn from each of the department in the school.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study is limited to the School of Education, Science, Vocational and Technical Education and Languages as a basic for drawing conclusion to all school participating in examination in Edo State let alone that of the federal republic of Nigeria in general. Therefore, the findings may not necessary be generalized to all school in Nigeria. It represents the difficulties encountered by the various schools in the college of education.

RESEARCH QUESTION

The study is guided by the following questions:

1. There is no significant influence of examination malpractice in lecturers attitude to learning in state institution

2. There is no significant influence of examination malpractice in lecturers attitude to learning in federal institution

3. There is no significant influence of examination malpractice in learners/ student attitudes in state institution.

4. There is no significant influence of examination malpractice in learners/ student attitudes in federal institution.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Examination: examination could be define as a process of testing of knowledge or ability of an individual in mathematics questions, papers or oral inquiry into an inspection of some thing, or on a botanical specimen, and of business account and of one eyes questioning by a lawyer in a law court and of a witness.

Examination malpractice: could be defined as a process, whereby students by cheating in examination hall, in order for them to be able to gain what they want. They cheat by writing in piece of paper, writing in their palm and other part of their body.