Checking Examination Malpractices In Nigeria

Examination malpractice has consistently remained the bane
of Nigeria’s education system. Most foreigners say that the academic
certificates being issued to graduates in Nigeria are no more valuable than the
pieces of paper on which they are printed. This is embarrassing.

By definition, examination malpractice is an illegal
behaviour by candidate before, during or after the examination with a view to
attaining success easily and cheaply. In other words, it is a short-cut to
attain success. It is a cankerworm that portends grave dangers for the nation.

Many reasons account for examination malpractices. These
include laziness and poor reading habit. Seriousness is thrown to the wind by
many students. Most of them have little time for their studies.

Also, many students are desperate, thinking that passing an
examination is a do or die affair. They want to excel by all means even when
they are ill prepared. Some want promises from their parents fulfilled and
therefore do everything possible to pass.

Meanwhile, some corrupt invigilators and supervisors aid and
abet examination malpractices. Many invigilators and supervisors sell
examination papers to students for monetary reward, while some of them receive
bribe in order to allow students cheat in examination hall.

Lastly, there is a general trend in our society towards
cheating and corruption. This is encouraged by poor leadership in the country.

The effects of examination malpractices cannot be
over-emphasised. Creativity and resourcefulness are relegated to the
background, thereby promoting mediocrity. This accounts for reasons why many
employees are unproductive, since the certificates they claim to posses are not
merited.

Given this embrarrassing situation, government should insist
on recruiting qualified teachers who were properly trained in their fields.

Counsellors should also be employed in all schools to guide
the students on the best way to pass examinations.

Continuous assessment is another way of checking examination
malpractices. It is capable of reducing examination malpractices especially
when 40 per cent of marks are accummulated from various assessments such as
projects and assignments before actual examinations.

A significant number of external invigilators and principals
should occasionally pay visits to examination halls to observe what is going
on.

Meanwhile, students should be thoroughly searched before
entering the hall. Apart from photographs, fingerprints on certificates should
be used for identification as no two persons, even identical twins, could have
the same fingerprint. That is why it is used in crime detection.

Solutions are only possibly where there are enough
examination halls,  adequate seats and
adequate number of invigilators. A situation where about 150 students sit on
the floor to write examinations is very unpalatable.

The Federal Government I learnt, has established an
examination ethics committee to look into the incessant cases of examination in
the country. The committee should come up with comprehensive analysis of the
situation and proffer lasting solutions to the menace. All the State
governments and local government councils should collaborate with the Federal
Government in order to check this menace that has made Nigerian certificates a
worthless piece before the international community.

Trakiriowei is a student of Mass Communication, Rivers State
University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.

Eyilaere P. Trakiriowei