The Adverse Effects Of Examination Malpractice

The adverse effects of examination malpractice on our student population’s human capital development, intellectual enhancements, and capacity building cannot be over-emphasised.

Examination malpractice could mildly be construed as a persistent and distressing issue hindering the growth of education globally. They are widely regarded as a form of enduring corruption.

Examination malpractice could destroy generations by spreading misinformation, misguidance, and incomplete knowledge, which cannot withstand prolonged scrutiny without criticism.

Examination malpractice implies an unauthorised acts, gestures, whispers, or any other form of communication which could undermine the integrity and quality of the outcome of an examination exercise.

Putting Examination Malpractice into Perspectives

Over the years, examination malpractice has burdened numerous educational institutions, particularly colleges of education and universities in the country, including those in the northern region.

The Nigerian Universities Commission documented that approximately 436 students are expelled annually from various higher educational institutions across Nigeria due to examination practice.

Examination malpractice occurs due to inadequate preparation on the part of the students and the pressure to achieve high grades without studying hard, leading to improper or illegal conduct by students.

I have seen individuals laying claim to the futility of the future impacts of examination , and even went as far as questioning the need for students to write examination to justify their understanding of the subjects or topics.

As a matter of fact, I’ve encountered arguements that downplays examinations as an authentic showcase of knowledge and understanding because to them, examination is about cramming information, retaining such information and then be able to regurgitate such information within an examination setting does not fairly represents a demonstration of skills and knowledge.

As we all know, examination  primarily evaluate learners’ knowledge, skills, and understanding.

In Nigeria, examinations are conducted at all the levels of academic tiers, including  higher learning institutions, and as gateways to specialization areas at the tertiary level.

However, one of the significant challenges is examination misconduct, which has significantly impacted the Nigerian educational system to the extent that it can no longer be ignored.

I believe the experience of examination malpractice is not limited to Nigeria but globally, at varying degrees though.

Forms of Examination Malpractice

Examination malpractice could take various forms , and are not limited to those that are highlighted in this article, as follows:
-Collusion: This is otherwise popularly referred to as  examination leakage. It involves a candidate conspiring with an exam officer or another member of the organizing body to obtain a copy of the questions before the exam, allowing them to alter the specific queries.

– Inscription : This involves engraving notes on surfaces or a person’s body to bring into the exam hall. It is one of the most widespread forms of exam misconduct.

-Impersonation: This implies a standard examination malpractice in many countries, including Nigeria. It involves someone pretending to be another person to cheat and pass an exam.

 Root Causes of Examination Malpractice

There are so many things that could encourage ,facilitate and lead a student to engage in examination malpractice. This article will not exhaustively highlight all of them. However, I will mention few, as follows:

1. Parental Negligence: Parents plays a crucial role in instilling virtues into their children or wards. Some parents contribute to examination misconduct by being overly concerned with their children’s grades and facilitating cheating to ensure high academic scores.

2. Fraudulent Educational System: The deterioration of the educational sector has led to viewing education as a business. Some school proprietors may use unethical practices to ensure their schools excel in competitions or external exams.

3. Environmental and Societal Factors: Nigerian students often find themselves in a society where exam malpractice is common and sometimes accepted. The environment influences students to adopt such behaviours, making unethical conduct a norm.

Unfortunately, students who engage in examination malpractice cannot uphold the value of their certification.

For instance, a medical doctor who cheated might harm patients due to a lack of proper knowledge, and an engineer might produce unsafe structures.

These consequences lead to societal regression.

According to Nigerian Universities Commission’s statistics, around 386 undergraduates were expelled from Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions in January 2021.

In 2021 alone, 386 students were expelled, and 81 were dismissed in 2022 for exam malpractice and other offenses.

Notable expulsions include 12 students from Aminu Dabo College of Health Sciences and Technology in Kano, 23 from the College of Education in Nasarawa, and 30 from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Ogun State.

Other institutions include the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology in Lafia (11 students), Bayero University in Kano (5 students), Kwara Polytechnic (29 students), Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Rivers State (3 students), Adeyemi College of Education in Ondo State (9 students), Adamawa State University (8 students), Federal Polytechnic in Nasarawa (51 students), Kwara State Polytechnic (29 students), University of Calabar (2 students), Kaduna Polytechnic (85 students), Federal Polytechnic in Bauchi (30 students), Kwara State University (30 students), Gombe Federal University (24 students), and University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2 students).

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Examination malpractice is the most significant challenge facing Nigeria’s educational sector today, especially in the northern region.

This detrimental practice requires radical measures to mitigate its harmful effects on the country’s development.

What are the adverse effects of examination malpractice?

The adverse effects of examination malpractice, be it intended and unintended consequences  are many and I may not be bale to exhaust them in one article. However, for the purpose of this article, I will highlight the followings:

-Legal and Disciplinary Consequences

In some cases, exam malpractice can lead to legal actions or disciplinary measures, resulting in severe consequences for those involved.

– Erosion of Academic Integrity

Exam misconduct undermines the educational system’s values of honesty, integrity, and fair competition, leading to a lack of trust and respect for academic achievements.

– Reduced Motivation to Learn

Students who engage in malpractice may rely on dishonest methods rather than genuine learning, leading to a lack of motivation for academic excellence.

– Contributing Factors of Poor Governance

Poor governance also contributes to exam malpractice. For example, inadequate teaching aids or poor teacher remuneration can lead to a lack of proper teaching, leaving students no choice but to resort to cheating.

In conclusion, examination malpractice is a significant detriment to the quality of education.

There is a strong need for concerted efforts to restore the integrity and excellence of the educational system within and outside our environment due to its severe impacts on the future of the upcoming ones.