ATTITUDE OF PARENTS TOWARDS EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content                                                                                                          page

Title page                    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           i

Declaration                  –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           ii

Approval Page            –           –           –           –           –           –           –           iii

Acknowledgement                  –           –           –           –           –           –           –           iv

Dedication                  –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           v

Table of contents                    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           vi

List of tables   –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           vii

Abstract                      –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           xi

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study                    –           –           –           –           –           1-4

1.2       Statement of the Problem        –           –           –           –           –           –           4-5

1.3       Purpose of the Study  –           –           –           –           –           –           5-6

1.4       Research Questions    –           –           –           –           –           –           6

1.5       Significance of the Study       –           –           –           –           –           –           6-7

1.6       Delimitation of the Study                   –           –           –           –           –           7

1.7       Operational Definition of Terms         –           –           –           –           7-8

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0       Introduction         –                  –           –           –           –           –           –           9         

2.1       Concept of Examination        –           –           –           –           –           –           9-10

2.2       Concept of Examination Malpractice –           –           –           –           10-12

2.3       Attitudes of Parents toward their Children’s Education        –           12

2.3.1  Positive Attitude of Parents towards their Children’s

Education        –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           12-13

2.3.2  Negative Attitude of Parents towards their Children’s

Education        –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           13-14

2.4       Empirical Review of Examination Malpractice          –           –           14-17

2.5       Genesis of Examination  Malpractice            –           –           –           –           17-18

2.6       Forms of Examination  Malpractice   –           –           –           –           18-19

2.7       Sources  of  Examination  Malpractice           –           –           –           –           19-22

2.8        Parents Attitude and  Examination  Malpractice –                 –           22-24

2.9       Effect  of  Examination  Malpractice  on  Students  of

 English  Language     –           –           –           –           –           –           25-27

2.10      Possible  Solutions to  Examination  Malpractice                 –           27-29

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.0       Introduction                –           –           –           –           –           –           –           30

3.1       Research  Design        –           –           –           –           –           –           –           30

3.2       Population and Sample           –           –           –           –           –           –           31-32

3.3     Sampling Techniques    –           –           –           –           –           –           32-33

3.4     Instrument for Data Collection             –           –           –           –           33

3.5     Procedure for Instrument Development-          –           –           –           33

3.6     Validity and Reliability of Instrument –           –           –           –           33-34

3.7     Procedure  for  Data  Collection                       –           –           –           –           34

3.8       Method of Data Analysis                    –           –           –           –           –           34

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA  PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS  AND DISCUSSION

4.0       Introduction                –           –           –           –           –           –           –      35

4.1       Data  Presentation  and  Analysis       –           –           –           –      35-106

4.2       Discussion  of  Findings         –           –           –           –           –           –     106-107

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.0       Introduction    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –   108

5.1       Summary         –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –   118-110

5.2       Conclusion                  –           –           –           –           –           –           –   111

5.3       Recommendations      –           –           –           –           –           –           –   111-112      

5.4       Suggestions for Further Studies                     –           –           –           –   112

References-     –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –   113-115

Appendices                 –           –           –           –           –           –           –   116-118

LIST OF TABLES

Table                                                                                                                          Page

• Government Secondary School  Asa, Lankan  District               35
• Jowen Comprehensive  Secondary  School  Mile8,  Fier            45
• Tambes Community  Secondary  School  Pankshin                    55
• Lankan District [ Parents]                                                                        65
• Pankshin District [ Parents]                                                                     76
• Fier District  [Parents]                                                                 86
• General Public                                                                                         96

ABSTRACT

The research investigated the Attitudes of Parents towards Examination Malpractice among Students of English Language in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State. Data for analysis were derived from responses to the questionnaire administered to parents in some selected districts and students in some selected schools as well as the general public. Simple percentage was used to analyze the date. The analysis revealed some forms of examination Malpractice which include bringing into the examination hall unauthorized materials, collusion; impersonation; leakage; mass cheating and insult/assault on supervisors. The research also showed some reasons why parents allow their children to get involved in examination malpractice. These are faulty educational system, environmental factor, students’ attitudes, and admission requirement among others. Furthermore, the research revealed some  sources of examination malpractice and effects of examination malpractice which include lack  required knowledge and experience to carry out the assignment and professionals duty effectively, produces students of low standard and quality. The study therefore recommended that parents should develop the attitude of procuring recommended textbooks for their children/wards as at when due, check their class and home works as well as offer useful encouragement to them at home. They should also interact closely with teachers and school authority to keep the children in check, there should be adequate provision of infrastructure in our various institutions of learning for effective teaching and to avoid crowd class in order to discourage examination malpractice and giraffing and copying, there should be full implementation of the examination malpractice decree which provides for imprisonment of culprit to 21 years jail term, Electronic devices should be used to check student’s pockets before entering examination hall and Seminars, conferences and workshops should be organized at various levels to sensitize teachers and the public on the evils of examination malpractice. Print and electronic media should also be used in the campaign.  

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the Study

Education is the development of an individual through training and transmission of what is worthwhile to the point that he/she is able to fit into his environment and contribute to the best of his/her ability for the wellbeing of the society. In the general sense, education covers the whole life of an individual from birth till death. The formal school system through which education is acquired is greatly influenced in its result on the lives of all who pass through it.

            In Nigeria, before the 1840s, there was in existence a system of education. This was broadly traditional, occupationally oriental and informal apprenticeship system. This type of education as at that time was relevant to the needs of the society.

Education as a whole is beyond acquiring certificate it is meant to have a positive impact on an individual in every aspects of life. However, in our society today, the priority has been shifted to mere acquisition of quality certificate rather than quality person. Moreover, the increase in the quest to acquire material things has made students to employ any means to get a good certificate, since it pays for one to get a position in the society.

            The advent and influenced of the Christian missionary activities Affected a change from the informal system of education to the western oriented type of education, preference was no longer on physical strength but acquisition of certificates through academic and intellectual strength. However, before one acquires any certificate in formal education, examinations are known to play a very important role. Examinations are used for academic stratification or for assigning grades to students in primary, secondary and other higher institutions of learning. A student with a destination all through in certificate examination will be regarded by those around him/her as academically precious or sound. He/she is likely to have a place in institution of higher learning or will be given the best job within the society than a child with a mere pass or failure. These among other reasons have affected the attitudes of parents towards the education of their children or wards.(Adegoke, 2010).

            The emphasis placed on having the best grades or certificates has made parents to mount pressure on their children or wards to do all they can to acquire it. Awanber, (2005), parents make effort to trace their children`s question papers to marking center for the purpose of unduly influencing the scores. Parents support their children to indulge in this vice so that they will get good grades especially in English Language. Also Uduh (2009) confirmed this when he stated that in the recent past, parents have participated in transferring their children from urban centers to rural villages, where they organize fraudulent deals to have their children cheat in examination or be prior attention during the examination. It is no longer new to hear that parents give their children money on the day of English Language examination. Thus, drastic step must be taken to curtail this, so that the problem of examination malpractice should be eliminated.

The education of every child starts from the home especially in the learning of English Language. A child`s ability to learn English Language to an extent depends on the parents. Most children ability to speak, spell and write in English Language has been affected by the mother tongue due to the fact that at home, parents hardly speak English to them (Children). English Language been an official language adopted by Nigeria, play a major role in the development of a child. Deficiency in it, will amount to poor performance in the society, particularly in the academic area. Thus, parents are meant to groom their children from the home when they are still young by buying them materials such as: audio and audio-visual disc e.t.c to encourage those (Children). The materials will help them to be able to learn how to pronounce words, write correct sentences and to develop their vocabulary. If parents will adopt English Language as a language to be spoken at home and to make necessary correction when a child speaks wrong English, learning English Language in schools would have been easier. Thus, the increase in examination malpractice in our society especially among secondary school students in English Language in Pankshin Local Government in Plateau State, has affected the quality of graduates that has been produced. This will certainly have a negative impact in the society and particularly on the upcoming generation. (Adegoke,2010).  

• Statement of the Problem

This occurrence of examination malpractice at any level of education stratum possess the greatest threat to the validity and reliability of any examination and consequently to the authenticity and recognition of certificate issued.

            The emphasis placed on having the best certificates by parents and the numerous examination malpractices among the students of English language in Pankshin Local Government Area over the years have become a growing concern. Most times graduates of English Language cannot write, spell properly and express themselves fluently in English language. No wonder, many graduates of English, teaching the subject cannot teach effectively in Primary and Secondary schools. This certainly cannot be divorced from the effect of examination malpractice which has affected the quality of graduates in English Language. The purpose of this research is to examine parents’ attitudes towards examination malpractice among secondary school students in English Language in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State. 

• Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this research work is to determine parents’ attitude and examination malpractice among secondary school students in English Language in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State. The objectives are as follows:

1. To examine the nature of English, forms and sources of examination malpractice.
2. To determine the attitudes of parents toward learning English.
3. To unveil the effects of examination malpractice on students of English Language in Pankshin Local Government Area.
4. To proffer possible solution to examination malpractice among secondary school students in English Language in Pankshin L.G.A.
   • Research Questions

This research is an attempt to provide measures (solution) to the following:

• What are the genesis, forms and sources of examination malpractice?
• To what extent do parents attitudes affect examination malpractice?
• What are the effects of examination malpractice on secondary school students in English Language in Pankshin Local Government Area?
• What are the solutions to examination malpractice among English language students in Pankshin?
  • Significance of the Study

The importance of this research work is to examine parents’ attitudes towards examination malpractice among secondary school students in English Language in Pankshin. Thus, the research will be of benefit to the following:

1. The researchers: It will broaden the knowledge of the researchers, it

will involve a lot of studies. 

1. To Parents and Students: It will be an eye-opener to parents and students as well as educate them on what the pursuits of the students of English Language should.

• Government, ministry of education and other institutes: It will serve as a recommendation to government, ministry of education and other institution of learning for their policy formulation.

1. To other researchers: The research will serve as a future reference material for future research work by other researchers.
2. To other stakeholders: the research will also be of great help to educational administrators, curriculum planners, policy makers etc.
   • Delimitation of the Study

Examination malpractice is a multi-dimensional subject which cut across many institutions of learning, but this research will focus mainly on the parents’ attitudes towards examination malpractice among secondary school students in English Language in Pankshin L.G.A.

• Operational Definition of Terms

Parent: A caretaker of a child or a person whose gamete resulted in a child.

Attitude: A settled way of thinking or feeling about something.

Examination malpractice: It is any form of cheating before, during and after examination.

Students: A learner or someone who attends an educational institution.