CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. PROJECT CODE: BED EDM003

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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