CAUSES OF EXAMINATION MAL-PRACTICE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN JOS SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page – – – – – – – – – – i
Declaration – – – – – – – – – – ii
Approval Page – – – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgments – – – – – – – – v
Abstract – – – – – – – – – vi
Table of Content – – – – – – — – – vii

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study – – – – – – – – 1
1.2 Statement of Problem – – – – – – – – – – – 5
1.3 Purpose of the Study – – – – – – – – – – – 5
1.4 Research Questions – – – – – – – – – – – 6
1.5 Research Hypothesis – – – – – – – – – – – 6
1.6 Significance of the Student – – – – – – – – – – 6
1.7 Scope of the Study – – – – – – – – – – – 7
1.8 Definition of Terms – – – – – – – – – – – 7

CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURE

CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction – – – – – – – – – – – – 34
3.2 Design of the Study – – – – – – – – – – – 34
3.3 Population of the Study – – – – – – – – – – 34
3.4 Sample and Sampling Techniques – – – – – – – – – 34
3.5 Instrument for Data Collection – – – – – – – – – 35
3.6 Validation of Instrument – – – – – – – – – – 35
3.7 Method of Data Collection – – – – – – – – – – 36
3.8 Method of Data Analysis – – – – – – – – – – 36

CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION OF DATA AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
4.1 Results and Discussion – – – – – – – – – – 38
4.2 presentation and Analysis of Data – – – – – – – – – 38
4.2 Testing of Hypothesis – – – – – – – – – – 45

CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES
5.1. Summary of findings – – – – – – – – – – 51
5.2. Conclusion – – – – – – – – – – – – 51
5.3. Recommendations – – – – – – – – – – – 52
5.4. Suggestions for Further Studies – – – – – – – – – 53
References – – – – – – – – – – – – 55
Appendices – – – – – – – – – – – – 57

ABSTRACT
This research was carried out to investigate examination mal-practice among secondary school students in Jos south local government area in plateau state. The project highlights the causes of examination mal-practice among secondary school students, the effect of examination mal-practice, some factors responsible for examination mal-practice, forms of examination mal-practice and some possible solution to examination mal-practice in secondary schools. In this research work, a sample of 120 students was selected by means of simple random sampling techniques from six secondary schools both public and private, three respectively from Jos south local government. The research instrument used for the study was the student`s questionnaire which was validated by the supervisor and used for the collection of data from the respondents. The data collected from respondents were analyzed with the mean and t-test for two related. At the end of the analysis, the study revealed the major reasons for examination mal-practice which include emphasis on certificates, high expectations of parents and so on. The study further re-commend that parents should not put pressure on students rather encourage them to study. Also emphasis should not be laid on certificates.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Over the years, there have been reported cases of leakages of examination questions and other forms of mal-practices (Sekuk, 2014) it has lead to the cancellation of several examination results, termination of appointment and withholding of some examination centers results.
The examination that has been long designed to be a tool for the assessment of a student`s true knowledge and a determinant for whether or not a student is qualified to be promoted to the next level has become a tool now abused both by students and teachers. Examinations are known to play a very vital role in our education system. Anzene (2014), defined examination as a formal test of one`s knowledge or ability in a particular subject especially by means of answering questions or practical exercises. Adekunle in omenu (2015) see examination as an instrument used for the assessment of individual skills and knowledge content, both in general and specific area of study. Teaching and learning become more effective when the students are subjected to an examination process to determine the extent to which the students have assimilated the content of the instruction given and the teacher can also assess himself from the performance of the students.
Unfortunately, this all important means of assessing students has become ineffective as all forms of mal-practice have been introduced into the system. Adesina in Omemu (2015), trade the history of examination mal-practice in Nigeria to 1914. When there was a leakage of the Cambridge examination. According to Wilayat (2009), examination mal-practice is defined as a deliberate wrong doing contrary to official examination rules designed to place a candidate at an unfair advantage or disadvantage. She also said is any illegal act committed by a student single handedly or in collaboration with other like fellow students, parents, teachers, supervisors, invigilators, printers and anybody or group of people before, during or after examination in order to obtain underserved marks or grades.
Aliyu in zuhumben, Maikano, Gokum (2010), argues that examination mal-practice involves irregular behavior related to the examination exhibited by candidates or by anybody charged with the conduct of examination in or outside the examination.
Ogbaji and Awuya in Sekuk (2014) view examination mal-practice as any dishonest or deceitful act by a candidate or any person to contravene existing rules and regulations in order to obtain undue reward for one’s self or to disfavor anyone in any form of assessment or examination in the educational system.
According to Omemu (2015), Nigeria`s education system is largely criticate and good grades oriented. Students, parents, school management and others tend to push harder on wards to get the certificate and good grades by all means. As a result much value and emphasis are place on certificate instead of knowledge, skills and dropouts have certificates without knowledge skills and right attitude. This is one of the reasons examination mal-practice is now increasing day after day as people rush to get the paper qualification for the jobs they possess or good grades to secure employment.
According to Anzene (2014), 1994 marked a watershed in the history of examination mal-practice as there was an outcry in Nigeria on the credibility of west African examination council (WAEC), which was the only organ saddled with the responsibility of concluding public examination in Nigeria. Consequently, a judicial commission of enquiry headed by justice Sogbetun was setup to look into the affairs of the WAEC in relation to the problems of efficient conduct of examination and prompt release of results. The report acknowledged the excessive workload of WAEC and recommended reduction of its workload by establishing other examination bodies to take over some of its examinations.
Examinations could be either internal, external, oral, written or both. Continuous assessment scores, terminal, semester, annual or promotion examinations are examples of internal examinations. Bernard in ( Anzene, 2014). The external (public) examinations include common entrance examinations for admission into secondary schools, school certificate examinations which are conducted by West African Examination council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO), The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Now conduct the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The national teachers institute (NTI). National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) conduct examinations for teachers and technicians respectively.
From all the definitions above, mal-practice simply put is the deliberate wrong doing contrary to the stated rules to be obeyed during the course of an exams to favour whoever is involved. Mal-practice does not have a negative effect on the person that is involved alone but the society at large as it hinders national development. There is therefore a need to eliminate it completely for our national development to grow progressively.
1.2. Statement of Problem
Nowadays, many students carry about very good results yet cannot defend the results in their areas. These results may be products of examination mal-practices hence the students are not having the requisite knowledge. Sekuk (2014), said examination mal-practice is a serious problem that has bedeviled the education system in Nigeria. It has become the order of the day that people no longer frown at it. It lowers the educational standard and nullifies well meaning efforts put in by conscientious educators towards the achievement of sound standard of education.
1.3. Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study is to:
i. Find out the various methods of examination mal-practice employed by the students.
ii. Find out some of the effects examination mal-practice
iii. Find out the persons involved in the examination mal-practice.
iv. Find out the various causes of examination mal-practice in secondary schools in Jos south local government Area.
1.4. Research Questions
i. What are the motivating factors that move students to indulge in examination mal-practice?
ii. Are the parents involved in the examination mal-practice?
iii. Are the teachers involved in the examination mal-practice?
iv. What are some of the methods employed by the students?
v. What are some of the effects of examination mal-practice?
1.5 Research Hypothesis
1. There is no significant difference between the role played by the teacher and parents of the students involved in examination mal-practice.
2. There is no significant difference between the role played by the parents and students involved in examination mal-practice.
1.6. Significance of the Study
This research is aimed at not only exposing the extent to which students are involved in mal-practice but if implemented will also
i. Provide lasting solutions to this academic dishonesty called examination mal-practice.
ii. Help parents know the various methods employed in examination mal-practice by their children and how to curb it.
iii. Help teachers to control examination mal-practice among their students.
iv. Helps students to discover the effects of examination mal-practice and hence seek genuine knowledge.
1.7. Scope of the Study
The study will cover the causes and methods employed by the students who involve themselves in examination mal-practice in senior secondary school in Jos south local government area, plateau state, Nigeria. Only students and teachers serving in the schools within the study area will be incorporated in the study (Jos south local government areas in plateau state). There are about 123 schools in Jos south local government area with most being mixed i.e both boarding and day. About 20 public and 103 private schools. Six (6) schools are chosen for the purpose of this research.

1.8. Definition of Terms
Examination: A test of a student`s ability and knowledge after a period of learning. It is a determinant of learners strength and weakness necessary for the learner`s adjustment and work life.
Mal-practice: It is a behavior of a person contrary to laid down rules/ code of conduct.
Cheating: Is referred to a type of examination mal-practice which takes place in the hall.
Causes: A reason for having a particular feeling or behaving in a particular way.