Conventionally, examinations are regarded as a method of assessment of pupils who have experienced one level of education or another at the conclusion of a expression, semester or academic year.
But, among other worrisome developments which the industry is experiencing in the country nowadays, the incidence of examination malpractices in the Nigerian academic process is really a primary one that is quickly assuming a level of national and international embarrassment and harmful dimension. It is really a harming crisis, which or even relieved soon, may destroy the nation’s all-important knowledge sector.
Examination malpractices are generally referred to as wrongdoings before, throughout or after examinations. And, without mincing words, they’re having showing, negative results on the nation’s quality of education, only as much college leavers and graduates cannot protect their certificates. As menacing as this endemic tendency may possibly look, urgent procedures have to be followed for the cankerworm not to ruin the nation’s potential fully before extended: it’s too critical to be neglected. And, this is actually, yet another cogent reason Nigeria wants moral renaissance and price regeneration in every facets of their national life.
How can one describe what an examination malpractice is? In accordance with Nwana (2000), examination malpractice is defined as the “substantial and unprecedented abuse of rules and regulations pertaining to inner and public examinations, start from the placing of such examinations through the using of the examinations, their observing and grading, to the release of the results and the issuance of certificates.”
In an identical vein, an academic has attempted another description of this unbridled phenomenon as “the act of omission or commission supposed to make a scholar pass examination without counting definitely on his/her independent ability or resources.”
Certain study studies, findings, instructive and informed submissions of educationalists, academics, and other prime stakeholders in that particular sector of the nation’s economy, but, have indicated that there have been one kind of examination malpractice or one other before because in the first 1970s when “bulk cheating was perpetrated in WAEC” (West African Examinations Council).
Possibly, that realisation jolted the examination human anatomy at the secondary college level to study critically, different manifestations and extent of this retrogressive inclination. It allegedly, categorised the different types of examination malpractice as including bringing in foreign products to examination halls, unusual actions inside and outside examination halls, collusion, impersonation, leakage, bulk cheating and insult/assault on supervisors throughout exams.
Other designs of exam malpractices recognized by WAEC include guidance of individuals by invigilators to answer or have hint to hard ideas, while some invigilators also head to the extent of answering some elements of the issue for prospects, irrespective of other types as “giraffing, contraband, bullet, very printing, escort, missiles, and pregnant biros.”
Nonetheless, what has occurred to the survival of the country’s training program from that time till this very day? Regrettably, in the extended 21st Century, examination malpractices of different kinds, types and manifestations, incontrovertibly, have worsened and turn into a national problem. The unbecoming inclination voraciously, remains to consume strong to the social fabric, from the comfort of major colleges to tertiary institutions of understanding over the Nigerian Federation. It is no wonder then, that the Nigerian Union of Educators (NUT), of new, passionately requested the National Assembly to declare a state of crisis in the knowledge market to be able to consciously revamp the missing fame of the when flourishing industry.
While several stakeholders in the segment yet, believe that the commonplace malaise the knowledge industry is not merely perpetrated by the pupils alone, but additionally with the productive connivance of other stakeholders, including teachers, protection brokers, exam invigilators, models, supervisors, and the like, examination malpractices have similarly been explained by some in the know of the pervasiveness of the discouraging tendency as “perennial and institutionalised multibillion Naira business”, on which some depraved persons, groups and institutions give fat in the united states as of now.
But, a pertinent issue any honest-minded Nigerians must question themselves as of this moment is: How did Nigeria get to this decadent state in its training business? Just as some important stakeholders and professionals severally, have stated sincere concerns concerning the frequent injury continual examination malpractices are wreaking o
n the nation, numerous factors have now been sophisticated because of this ugly development.
Among different causes adduced for the astronomical escalation in exam malpractices in recent years are that using instances, “issues are not linked to the syllabus”, and subsequently, examination malpractices are encouraged. It is also, been alleged that topic syllabuses are overloaded and burdensome for examination candidates, so that they often times find it difficult to cope. But, are these tenable reasons for doubtful individuals and their depraved collaborators to participate in examination irregularities? It’s just indefensible for prospects to resort to examination irregularities. It’s thought that with decided, conscious initiatives at succeeding in just about any worthwhile endeavour, including examinations, “where there is a can, there’s a way.”
Several Jamb runs not enough seriousness and ability to take on their potential, as many believe that many learners these days are “maybe not prepared to learn “.For example, it’s been seen that in most public schools in particular, pupils are seen running the roads, while some seen with home video cassettes and lightweight drives (CDs/DVDs) and others enjoying baseball all through school hours.
Likewise, in an eager test at freezing parents financially, there has been recognized instances where exam stay questions are hurriedly solved by school managements in collusion with chosen exam writers, impersonators often in “personal colleges’ideas’practices” to be able to please the parents to the detriment of their children’s future prospect. And, these essential school officers are expected to be position designs, paragons of forthrightness, loyalty, and strength to these kiddies, aren’t they?
It’s been recognized this anomaly is generally perpetrated concurrently, as pupils write theirs in examination halls, and copies of such exam solutions are made and distributed for their students for bulk copying, thus turning their colleges in to sanctuaries of examination malpractices at worst. Reports state examiners are, certainly, finding better in tracking such anomalies in exam solution texts in new times.