CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE ON STUDENTS’
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
(A CASE STUDY OF TAI SOLARIN UNIVERSITY OF
EDUCATION)
A B.Ed (B.Sc) RESEARCH PROJECT
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL
MANAGEMENT,
2013
ABSTRACT
The study examined the causes and effects of examination
malpractices on students’ academic performance. It identified the causes and
effects responsible for the persistence of examination malpractices.
The study adopted simple frequent counting and chi –
square statistics. The data were collected using the questionnaire as the
research instrument which was titled causes and effects of examination
malpractice (CEEM). CEEM was used to obtained data from a total of one hundred
(100) respondents from the four (4) colleges in Tai – Solarin University of
Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu – ode, ogun – state.
The findings revealed that examination malpractice
has many effects on students’ academic performance, these include reduction in
the worth of certificates, production of low quantity students, students are
discourage from working hard among others. Also it indicated pressure / influence
of parent on students, collusion from examination officials, students desire to
pass at all cost, over emphasis on certificate, among others as significant
factors responsible for the persistence of examination malpractices.
The study recommends that only combination of
several proffered solution can resolve the menace of examination malpractices,
and solution should be preventive rather than curative measures. Among the
recommendations made were the provision of educational facilities,
harmonization of different syllabus, regular counseling of student, adequate
security before, during and after examination. These proffered solutions would
reduce examination malpractice to minimum level.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title
Page
Approval
Page
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table
of Contents
Lists
of tables and figures
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background to the Study
1.2
Statement of the Problem
1.3
Purpose of the study
1.4
Significance of the study
1.5
Research Questions
1.6
Research Hypothesis
1.7
Scope and delimitation of the study
1.8
Operational Definition of terms
CHAPTER TWO
2.0
REVIEW
OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1
The meaning of Examination Malpractice
2.2
Incidence of Examination malpractice
2.3
Forms of Examination Malpractice
2.4
Causes of Examination malpractice
2.5
Effect of Examination malpractice
2.6
Effort so far in curbing Examination
malpractice
2.7
Appraisal of Literature reviewed.
CHAPTER THREE
3.0
RESEARCH
METHOD
3.1
Research Design.
3.2
Study population
3.3
Sample and sampling techniques
3.4
Research Instrument
3.5
Validity of Instrument
3.6
Reliability of Instrument
3.7
Administration of research Instrument
3.8
Method of Data Analysis.
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0
ANALYSIS
OF DATA AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1
Data Analysis
4.2
Discussion of findings
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0
SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1
Summary
5.2
Conclusion
5.3
Recommendation
5.4
References
5.5
Implications of Findings
5.6
Appendices.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1
Background
to the Study
Examinations in
Nigeria schools dated back to the advent of formal education in the country in
the 1800s was patterned after the British system. As such, according to Adesina,
(1990); Bandele, (2005) the 1987 ordinance made provision for examinations in
schools that have attained the requisite percentage of proficiency. Towards
this end, all secondary schools in the country are expected to teach their
subjects to meet the requirement of the examination bodies for the expected to
teach their subjects to meet the requirement of examination bodies for the
Senior Secondary School Certificate organized by the West African Examinations
Council and the National Examination Commission (FGN, 2004). Since the advent
of western education in Nigeria, Examination has being the major instrument
used for the evaluation of learners or students’ achievement. It is a means of assessing
the quality and quantity or performance that an individual has accumulated at
the end of a teaching process which may spread over a period of seventeen
weeks; according to Adekate (1993), examinations are instruments used for the
assessment of individual skills and knowledge - content, both in generals and
specific areas of studies and over – all academic achievements. To Liman, as
cited by Arifayan (2004), examination in broad perspective is an instrument for
testing, assessing, evaluating and thus in schools examination is a potent
instrument for judgment of knowledge or competence, on her own part, Alutu
(2005) simply defined examination as a process of measuring how much knowledge
a student in an institution of learning has acquired after exposing him/her to
definite course of instruction. Examination as defined by Okoye (1986) is “an
organized assessment technique which presents or tasks geared towards
ascertaining the individual acquired skills and knowledge. Drawing from all
these definitions, examination can rightly be said to be an indispensable tools
in educational system which serves as various functions.
In
Nigeria, examinations are either internal or public. Internal examinations are
the examinations set by teachers or lecturers in form class tests and end of
term or semester examinations, public examinations on the other hand, are examinations
that conducted in the public interest by recognized examining bodies that were
not involved in organizing instruction or preparing students for the
examinations (Addison, 1990, Salami, 1992; Adeyemi 1998). Examination
malpractice in the Nigerian education system most especially in Tai Solarin
University of Education is widely discussed, which is a menace to the country.
WACE (2003), defined Examination malpractice as any irregular behavior
behaviors or misconducts, surrounding examinations and it came to an alarming
rate in the last three decades. This is a refection of the society. The
Nigerian society is that which celebrates mediocre and views cheats as being smart.
The society does not want to know how an individual achieves success; the
important thing is the success. To be candid, examination malpractice is a
variant of the corruption in the society. The politicians employ rigging at
elections and enjoy enviable political offices and so do students cheat from
primary to tertiary institutions to move from one level to another. All sorts
of misconducts take place in and around examination Venice’s in order to
success. To make matter worse, it is not only students that are involved,
parents, lecturers or teachers, school heads, examination officials all collude
with students to perpetrate this misconduct (Ijaiya, 2004).
The
university system evaluates the achievement of student’s learning by
administering two major types of examinations. Each course is evaluated by
continuous assessment test (C.A Test) and semester examinations. These two
types of examinations are not spared of malpractices of one type or another. It
was a common occurrence to see posters of student expelled from Tai Solarin
University of education.
Additionally,
common observations in the state shows that examination malpractices occur
mostly in higher Institutions, (Baiyelo, 2004); Daniel, 2005). Other
researchers (Ijaiye, 2000; Igwe, 2004) were of the view that examination
malpractices occur at a high rate in universities in Nigeria. Examination
malpractices occur in both internal and external examination which is almost a
routine to cheat in these examinations, (Onyechere, 2004). Everyone continues
to decry this canker worm in the Nigerian universities a case study of Tai
Solarin University of Education and all penalties put in place to stop this
trend remains almost ineffective. The instance of malpractices during
examinations has been identified (Cromwell, 2000, Adeyegbe, 2002). These malpractices
includes misrepresentation of identity or impersonation, cheating, theft of
other student’s work, tampering with other students work, bringing prepared
answers to examination halls, unethical use of academics resources, fabrication
of results, showing disregard to academic regulations, conspiracy, forgery of
result slip, disorderliness, aiding and many others (Gross, 2003; Owuamanam
2005; Olasehinde, 1993; Ogunsaju, 1999; Act 33 of 1999; Akpa, 2002; Olanipekun,
2003 and Onyechere, 2004). All stipulated
penalties of examination malpractices by Act 33 of 1999 Nigeria constitution, Tai
Solarin University (2005) such as rustication for not less than two semesters
to expulsion does not serve as deterrent to students.
1.2
Statement
of the Problem
The
persistent occurrence of examination malpractices has been a major concern to
educationist (Aghenta, 2000; Ige, 2002) it has also become a major challenge to
examination bodies, the Government of Nigeria, school administrators and
parents alike. Despite the high premium placed, on examinations by the National
Policy on Education (FGN, 2004), penalties stipulated by Act 33 of 1999 Nigeria
constitution and punishment made by schools it seems that examinations
malpractices have not been properly addressed in Tai Solarin University of
Education (TASUED). All these trends put in place to stop this menace remain
almost ineffective. Consequently, it does not serve as deterrent to student.
Nothing concrete has been done to reduce or eradicate the problem. The level of
examination malpractice in Nigeria universities specifically Tai – Solarin
University of Education as a case study makes a research of this nature a
paramount interest because it will properly looked into in this research work
so as to make reduction or eradication of examination malpractice effective.
1.3
Purpose
of the Study
Considering
the magnitude and the continuous occurrence of examination malpractice in the
Nigeria educational system including the “ivory tower” it is no doubt necessary
to research into this area before the Nigerian certificates become worthless
papers. Also in the era of anti – corruption in Nigerian society, the
educational system needs to join this crusade and totally rid the system of
this plague. It was therefore the intention of this research to look into forms
of examination malpractices, the causes and implications, effects of examination
malpractice on the society and in Nigeria educational system, forms of
examination malpractice also evaluate the penalties for examination malpractices
bring into focus the role of student, parent teachers/lecturers, staff of
public examination bodies, officials of Ministry of Education and National
Universities Commission in the perpetration of examination fraud in Nigerian
Universities, using Tai – Solarin University of Education (TASUED) as a case
study.
1.4
Significance
of the Study
Numerous researchers had carried out volumes of
books written on the negative effects of examination malpractices and solution
proffered this present research aim to identify the basic caused factors of
examination malpractices and relate the phenomenon with student performance.
Specifically, this study intends to give insight
into real intent of examination malpractices vis-a-vis the primary causes and
made suggestion on ways of eliminating examination malpractice. Note that when
the causes are known the solutions can be proffered more effectively. The study
intends to create a new perception on the mentality of perpetrators of
examination fraud, to the body of knowledge from such perception suggestions
would be made be an effective ways of minimizing examination malpractice hoping
that this growing tumor will be stopped and eliminated.
1.5
Research
Questions
This research intent to answer the
following question
1. Which
are the most frequently used examination malpractices in Nigeria Universities?
2. What
are perceptions of teachers on the effect of examination malpractices in
Nigeria Universities?
3. What
are the perceived causes of examination malpractices in Nigerian Universities?
4. What
are the ways of curbing examination malpractice in Nigerian Universities?
1.6
Research
Hypothesis
Hypothesis 1
H0:
There is no significant effect the perceived cause of examination malpractice
among students of Tai – Solarin University Ijebu – ode.
H1: There is significant effect of the
perceived cause of examination malpractice among student of Tai – Solarin
University of education Ijagun, Ijebu – ode.
Hypothesis 2
H0: There is no significant influence of
examination malpractice on student academic performance.
H1: There is significant influence of
examination malpractice on student academic performance.
Hypothesis 3
H0: Adequate disciplinary action against defaulters
in examination exercise is not a way of curbing examination malpractice.
H1: Adequate disciplinary action against
defaulters in examination exercise is a way of curbing examination malpractice.
1.7 Scope
and Delimitation of the Study
This study will be carried out in Ijebu
– Ode Local Government Area and the content is limited on Tai – Solarin
University of Education TASUED Ijagun, Ijebu – Ode.
1.8 Operational
Definition of Terms
Examination:
- This is a organized assessment technique which presents or tasks geared to
wards ascertaining the individual acquired skills and knowledge.
Education:
- This is the process of
transmitting knowledge, skills, culture, values, norms, custom, tradition etc.
to create a permanent change in behavior of human.
Examination Malpractice:
- Various ways in which an examination question paper is compromised or some
other action flouting examination regulations is committed resulting in
cheating during the examination refers to as Examination malpractice.
Expos: -
This is a small squeezed or folder pieces of paper slotted into hidden places
for retrieval and during examinations.
Collusion: -
This secret agreement or understanding between two or more persons including
students with aim of cheating before, during or after examinations or obtaining
undue advantage in examinations.
Trend: -
this is a general tendency or direction in the occurrence of examination
malpractice.
Mercenary: -
it is a person involved in examination malpractices for money or other personal
gains.
Leakage: -
this is an act of revealing examination materials, especially live questions to
students before the examination.
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