Students’ Attitude towards Examination Malpractice and Its Effects on Academic Performance

Students’ Attitude towards Examination Malpractice and Its Effects on Academic Performance

ABSTRACT

This descriptive study aimed to investigate the “Attitude of Students towards Examination Malpractice and its Effects on Academic Performance in Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.” To guide the study, three objectives were set viz: To examine the factors that influences the attitude of students towards examination malpractice, to identify the effects of examination malpractice on academic performance of students, and to proffer possible solutions to curb the menace of examination malpractice.

Research questions were also formulated and related literatures were reviewed based on the set objectives. The sample size of 100 respondents was selected using simple random sampling technique. The main instrument for data collection was questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using simple percentages and were presented in frequency tables. Findings revealed various factors influencing examination malpractice, it revealed the effects of examination malpractice among students, and also revealed the measures that should be adopted to curb the menace of examination malpractice. Based on these findings, conclusion was drawn and recommendations were made among others, that Government should provide adequate and conducive learning environment for students, and that sound educational policy should be made to curb the menace of examination malpractice.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    Background to the Study

According to Aaron (2012), “examination is a formal test of a student’s knowledge, skills or ability in a particular course especially by means of oral or written questions or practical exercises”. Abba, (2011) defines examination as a means of testing students’ knowledge and competence. Higher Education institutions in Nigeria consider examinations in determining whether or not a student can proceed to the following semester or year or qualify to graduate. Examination is therefore indeed pivotal as an indicator of the success or failure of higher education and still remains the best tool for an objective assessment and evaluation of what learners have achieved after a period of attending tutorial sessions, writing of assignments and other scholarly work.

Examination is an integral part of the Nigerian educational system as far as the school is concerned. Examination plays a major role and is also a main indicator of the quality of education; examination is an assessment technique which presents the individual with a sense of questions or tasks geared towards measuring acquired skills and knowledge (Okwu, 2014).

Many Nigerians seems to possess certificate from various institutions of higher learning in the country through fraudulent means (examination malpractice), it is because of the disproportionate emphasis on certificate to almost total neglect of learning that there are examination leakages, forgery and admission rackets. This act involves not only the students, but the staff also. The staffs behaviour in any examination should conform to the code of conduct specified by the examination body, through this, only the most capable candidates are selected to enter into the school system. All rules and regulations must be adhered to by students and teachers.

Examination malpractice can be defined as a deliberate act of wrong doing, contrary to official rules, and is designed to place a candidate at an unfair advantage or disadvantage; it is a careless, illegal or unacceptable behaviour by a candidate in a formal test of his knowledge or ability in a particular subject. It could also be said to be an act of omission or commission which compromises the validity and integrity of any examination (Okwu, 2014). Examination malpractice is counter-practice that is against ethics of examination, it is an act of disrespect to all rules and regulations guiding the good conduct of any examination or any evaluation process.

Examination malpractice is an act of illegal or unethical behaviour by somebody in the process of testing an examinee’s ability or knowledge by means of question (Jega, 2012). Okwu (2014) remarked that examination malpractice is any irregular behavior exhibited by a candidate or anybody charged with the conduct of examination before, during or after the examination which contravenes the rules and regulations governing the conduct of such examination. Such examination malpractice will include any of the following: examination leakage, impersonation, cheating, collusion, swapping of scripts, smuggling of answer scripts in examination halls, mass/organized cheating involving assistance from the staffs and outsiders, result/certificate forgery, verbal/physical assault on examination administrators (Aaron, 2012).

In Nigeria the last two decades have witnessed an alarming rate of crisis of examination misconduct especially in the Secondary and tertiary institutions. It has been widely reported that parents aid and abet examination malpractices directly or indirectly because they even go to the extent of bribing their way through to ensure that their wards get unearned grades. Some staffs on their part encourage examination malpractices because they lack the zeal to work and at the end would want to be praised for a job, which was never done thus graduating students who do not actually possess the abilities for which they were examined (Ojikutu, 2010). This trend in examination malpractices is inimical to academic development and advancement and needs to be drastically addressed.

 1.2    Statement of the Problem

The persistent occurrence of examination malpractices has been a major concern to educationists. Despite the high premium placed on examinations by the National Policy on Education, it seems that examination malpractices have not been properly addressed in Nigeria. Common observations have shown that there is mass cheating in public examinations at various States. Nothing concrete has been done to reduce the problem except the cancellation of results for a particular centre or the withholding of results in certain subjects.

The attitude of staffs towards examination malpractices differs from individual to a large extent from society. However, the problem of examination malpractices has eroded the seriousness of students in studying and learning. It has deprived students from learning instead, they prefer going to examination hall with micro-chips, key points, electronic phones, even textbooks to make things easy in the examination hall. Thus, the resultant effect of this illicit act is the production of half-baked graduates and invariably leading to inefficiency. Therefore, this project sought to assess the attitude of students towards examination malpractices.

 1.3    Broad Objective

The broad objective of this study is to examine the attitude of students towards examination malpractice and its effects on academic performance in Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.

1.4    Specific Objectives

The specific objectives this study is as follows:

1. To examine the factors that influences the attitude of students towards examination malpractice in Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.
2. To identify the effects of examination malpractice on academic performance of students in Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.
3. To proffer possible solutions to curb the menace of examination malpractice in Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.

1.5    Research Questions 

The research questions of are as follows:

1. What are the factors that influence the attitude of students towards examination malpractice in Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.
2. What are the effects of examination malpractice on academic performance of students in Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.
3. What are the possible solutions to the menace of examination malpractice in Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.

1.6    Significance of the Study

1. The study will beam more light on the problem of examination malpractices in tertiary institutions.
2. It will help to enlighten education administrators on the principles of solving the problems of examination malpractices in schools.
3. The research work will provide opportunity for better appreciation of educational certificate in the country.
4. It will help in solving the problem of brain drain in the country.
5. It will help the students of Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School to put the right attitude towards learning and in examinations.

 1.7    Scope of the Study

The canker worm of examination malpractices has eaten deep into the fabric of education in the country. This study will concentrate on the effects of examination malpractice, their causes, and possible solutions in Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

5.1    Introduction

This chapter is concerned with the discussion of findings, summary, conclusion, and recommendations.

5.2    Discussion of Findings

Research Question 1

What are the factors that influence the attitude of students towards examination malpractice in Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State?

Findings from research questionnaire items 1-4 revealed that out of the total respondents, 70 (70%) agreed that various factors influencing the attitude of students towards examination malpractice include lack of confidence as a result of inadequate preparation, peer influence, societal influence, and lack of parental support, poor facilities in school and non-conducive learning environment etc, while 30 (30%) disagreed.

This is in line with Ivowi (2012), who posited that lack of confidence as a result of inadequate preparation, peer influence, societal influence, parental support and poor facilities in schools are some of the factors responsible for examination malpractice. Ahmed, (2013) on his part maintained that School programmes, teaching/learning environment, the teacher, the student, over value of certificates, decadence in the Nigerian society (anomie) and parental support are other factors responsible for examination malpractice in the Nigerian educational system.

Research Question 2

What are the effects of examination malpractice on academic performance of students in Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State?

Findings from research questionnaire items 5-8 revealed that out of the total respondents, 73.75% agreed that examination malpractice poses serious threats on the academic performance of students, while 26.25% disagreed. In consonance with the effects of examination malpractice among the students, Onyechere (2014) posited that the consequences of examination malpractice both to education and the society will be catastrophic in the long run candidates/students who would ordinarily be working hard to pass examination will now depend on quack arrangements since they believe so much in such arrangements that it rarely failed.

Then the fraud or malpractice may eventually be seen as a way of academic exercise. Adewale (2014) also posited that Examination malpractice increases lack of confidence among students. Students who would have ordinarily passed an examination feel disappointed and lose confidence when less intelligent ones perform better than them through cheating, thus leading to loss of confidence in themselves and in the examination and the system at large.

 Research Question 3

What are the possible solutions to the menace of examination malpractice in Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State?

Findings from research questionnaire items 9-12 revealed that out of the total respondents, 90 (90%) respondents agreed that improvement in the quality of teaching, thorough screening by the examiner/invigilator before entering exams hall, provision of necessary amenities in the school, Government policies and legal action can help to reduce examination malpractice, while 10 (10%) respondents disagreed.

In connection with the above, Salami (2015), outline the following as remedial measures to examination malpractice: Sound educational policy, appointment of supervisors of proven integrity and who are independent to the examinations centers, remuneration of invigilators and supervisors, ensuring that only formally registered candidates sit for the examination, and religious and community leaders to intervene on parents who insist on their children getting the best result without genuine efforts for it.

5.3    Summary

This descriptive study aimed to investigate the Attitude of Students towards Examination Malpractice and its Effects on Academic Performance in Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State. To guide the study, three objectives were set viz: To examine the factors that influences the attitude of students towards examination malpractice, to identify the effects of examination malpractice on academic performance of students, and to proffer possible solutions to curb the menace of examination malpractice.

Research questions were also formulated and related literatures were reviewed based on the set objectives. The sample size of 100 respondents was selected using simple random sampling technique. The main instrument for data collection was questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using simple percentages and were presented in tables. Findings revealed that there are various factors influencing examination malpractice, these include; inadequate preparation, peer influence, societal influence, and lack of parental support, poor facilities in school and non-conducive learning environment.

Findings also revealed the effects of examination malpractice among students, poor academic performance, disrespect, low self-esteem etc. Finally, it revealed that improvement in the quality of teaching, thorough screening by the examiner/invigilator before entering exams hall, provision of necessary amenities in the school, Government policies and legal action can help to curb the menace of examination malpractice. Based on these findings, conclusion was drawn and recommendations were also made in the study.

5.4    Implication of the Study

The findings of this study have implications for all the stakeholders; parents, teachers, ministries of education, examination body personnel amongst others. Proper implementation of these identified strategies for curbing examination malpractice by the various stakeholders implies that the products of such public examinations will be able to defend the result so obtained. This will on the other hand improve the quality of education in Nigeria.

5.5    Conclusion

Examination malpractice remains the cankerworm in the Nigerian education system and all penalties put in place to stop it remains almost ineffective if not totally ineffective. It is caused by several agents such as students, staff, parents, examination bodies, internet and other agents by means of different techniques that grow by the day. This results to gradual loss of confidence in Nigerian certificates.

The consequences could be catastrophic to both education system and the society as it would turn out the society certificated illiterates. The study identified different forms of examination malpractices including but not limited to; impersonation, disorderliness, cheating, giraffing, conspiracy and aiding, forging of results, machinery, microchips, smuggling of question papers out of examination venues, smuggling answer scripts into examination venues, sorting and rewriting.

The study also traced the factors that influence the attitude of students toward examination malpractice to, and blamed students as not being adequately prepared for examination, other stakeholders in the educational system as tolerating and supporting it and the society at large for being responsible for the continuous rise in examination malpractice. In this study, several innovative strategies that can be used to curb examination malpractice of any source have been outlined. It then behooves on all of us to apply these strategies in order to minimize the dangers of examination malpractice. 

5.6    Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are proffered to curb the menace of examination malpractice:

1. Government should provide adequate and conducive learning environment for the students.
2. Sound educational policy should also be put in place by governments with de-emphasis on the supremacy of certificates over skills and professional competence.
3. The ban on the use of mobile cell phones in examination halls should be enforced by the examination bodies to check the new wave of e-cheating.
4. Lecturers and supervisors should be persons of proven integrity. The invigilators should be very vigilant in the supervision of examination and should be fair to all.
5. Government should make sure that all the perpetrators of examination malpractice are being punished.

5.7    Limitations of the Study

This study faced some limitations due to poor attitude of the respondents and lack of understanding of some of the questionnaire items.

5.8    Suggestion for Further Study

The researcher suggested that further study be conducted on the societal effects of examination malpractice.