The Scourge Called Exam Malpractice

As a result of over emphasis on paper qualification, examination cheating has become a vogue, while our children now prefer enjoying themselves at the expense of their studies. Because they are unsure of their ability to pass examinations, they resolve to finding cheap ways of doing so. Often, they rely on pre-knowledge of examination question papers otherwise known as expo. Unfortunately, the result of this practice is a fall in the standard of education.

Examination malpractice will hardly be sustained if it is not encouraged. Disappointingly, some examiners encourage the students to indulge in this obnoxious practice by collaborating with them. These examiners sometimes use this medium for economic gain as huge sums of money are exchanged for  expo. For example, the early White men introduced this examination malpractice in Nigeria in the early sixties; that brought about this gradually changing attitude of assessment of many students who forge papers.

Misconduct during the examinations period, ranging from buying question papers to sorting of lecturers and examiners. Examination malpractices have become unconscious/conscious behaviour in Nigeria. The concomitant effect of exam malpractice in Nigeria can not entirely be expressed here. But surfice it that the effect ranges from inability to express oneself in public with good command of English Language, inability to defend one’s pressure course of study, leading to inability to secure employment.

The downturn effect is usually frustration because the individuals has placed his/herself in the place of a graduate who  people expect to be highly intelligent and productive, but turns out to be a wastrel after spending   long years in school.

Many of our youths become frustrated and disillusioned as they see their colleagues, whose academic standard is rated low, being given admission either because they can afford the necessary bribe or have godfathers  who speak on their behalf.

The problem of examination malpractice, I believe, can be stopped  mainly with the attention and help of the government. I am personal convinced that with government’s readiness to combat the malaise of examination malpractice, there will be a change, and the examination malpractice will be a thing of the past.

Over the years emphasis has been place on providing education for the people. This is because of the belief that education inculcates in the people the sense of belonging. The training of our children has become a collective responsibility of teachers and parents. We should drum it to our children;s ears that Education malpractices are not important tools for achieving knowledge and national development.

Disappointingly, many educated people in the society exhibit the greatest act of indiscipline by indulge in various vices which render the nation impotent. In this country where the majority of the populace are not enlightened, the cue is taken from the learned majority. This majority are seen as the eyes of the people. Any of their indulgences is seen as well acceptable because they are expected to be more discipline  by virtue of their education. In view of this,  any learned people who falls to exemplify rectitude does a great damage to the nation as he or she stands to contaminate many around him who expect him to be an embodiment of examination malpractice.

Sintrials E. Etim