IMPACT OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LANGTANG NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                                                    i

Declaration                                                                                                                  ii

Approval Page                                                                                                            iii

Dedication                                                                                                                   iv

Acknowledgement                                                                                          v

Table of Content                                                                                                         vi

Abstract                                                                                                                      

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study                                                                                            1

1.2       Statement of the Problem                                                                                            5

1.3       Objectives of the Study                                                                                              6

1.4       Research Questions                                                                                        6

1.5       Statement of Hypothesis                                                                                             7

1.6       Significance of the Study                                                                                           7

1.7       Scope/Limitations of the Study                                                                                  8

1.8       Definition of Terms                                                                                         8

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0       Introduction                                                                                                    10

2.1       Concept of Examination Malpractices                                                            10

2.2       Forms of Examination Malpractice                                                    12

2.3       Review of Related Work to the Current Research                             17

2.4       Review of Empirical Literature                                                                      28

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1       Introduction                                                                                        31

3.2       Research Design                                                                                             31

3.3       Population of the Study                                                                                  32

3.4       Sample Size and Sampling Technique                                                            32

3.5       Research Instrument                                                                           33

3.6       Validity of the Instrument                                                                  34

3.7       Reliability of the Instrument                                                              34

3.8       Method of Data Collection                                                                 35

3.9       Method of Data Analysis                                                                                35

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.0       Introduction                                                                                                    37

4.1       Presentation of Data Analysis                                                             37

4.2.      Analysis of Research Questionnaires                                                             39

4.3       Hypothesis Testing                                                                             44

•      Discussion of Results                                                                         47

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1       Summary of Findings                                                                         50

5.2      Conclusion                                                                                                      51

5.3       Recommendation                                                                                            51

References                                                                                                                  53

Appendixes                                                                                                                 57

ABSTRACT

The study was designed to examine the the impact of Examination Malpractice in Students’ Academic Performance in Secondary Schools in Langtang North Local Government Area. The study used a survey research design, the population of the study was two thousand eighty hundred and sixty one (2861) teachers in the schools, two hundred respondents was sampled for the study, a convenience sampling techniques was used. Questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection, the instrument was validated by experts in school education. The findings revealed that parental pressure for good grades, and value attached to certificate. The finding also revealed that students who indulge in examination mal-practice were been expelled from schools. Students who are involve in examination mal-practice face discrimination and isolation among their equal. It was also discovered that Nigeria should pay less attention certificate. This implies that there should be regulation on student’s enrollment. The study recommends that, there should be a form of encouragement from parents, guidance and teachers so as to motivate students learning and development in academic environment, there should be strict measures taken by the schools, examination board and the examination officer on students involved in examination malpractices, the school management can help prevent examination malpractices by hiring good and experience teachers to mentor the students and prepare them for both internal and external examination.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Examination malpractice has become a normal occurrence among students world over, but more worrisome in Nigeria. Though there have been endless discussions on whether examination exercise should be expunged from school activity but there has not been any other substitute to assess the effectiveness of teaching and learning of both teachers and students respectively. Therefore, examination still remains one strong way of assessing academic activities in schools. Examination, as it were remains one of the herculean tasks that is insurmountable for students generally irrespective of their level, sex, status or age. At the mention of examination, students begin to agitate, worry, pant, and express other general disposition of anxiety. Aside these common feelings toward examination especially in Nigeria, Ugo & Odimba (2010) submitted that there is over-reliance on results of examinations to secure higher education or to get jobs by the students; and there is high level of moral decadence in the society. Consequent upon these, students resort to various corrupt practices to achieve ‘successes’ in examinations.

Ugo & Odimba (2010) described examination malpractice as any action done or omitted which makes it impossible to use an examination in determining the level of competence of a candidate in absorbing, reproducing, and where appropriate, applying knowledge. In effect, examination malpractice is any negative deviation or departure from the recommended and accepted norms in the conduct of examination. It is reported that students have devised several ways of practicing examination malpractice, among which are: impersonation; bringing in foreign materials (books, calculator); substituting worked scripts; stealing, converting, misappropriating scripts; collusion in the examination hall (copying); mass/organized cheating involving assistance from teachers and outsiders; and insult/assault on supervisors/ invigilators (Alutu & Aluede, 2010). In describing how institutionalized and fraternal examination malpractice has become in Nigeria, Ijaiya (2002) stated that the examination malpractice practitioners employ the services of adult agents/collaborators inform of the teachers, examination agents (in form of examiners in the case of external examinations), touts/mercenaries, as well as the parents to perform the act.

The common belief on certificates as the only yardstick to measure ones qualification has led many Nigerians into buying educational certificates to prove their academic worth. Examination malpractice in Nigeria is as old as the country herself. According to (Anzene, 2014), examination malpractice was first reported in Nigeria in the year 1914, when the question papers of the Senior Cambridge Local Examinations were reportedly seen by candidates before the scheduled date of the examination. The Examination Malpractice Act (1999) explains examination malpractice as any act of omission or commission by a person who in anticipation of, before, during or after any examination fraudulently secure any unfair advantage for himself or any other person in such a manner that contravenes the rules and regulations to the extent of undermining the validity, reliability, authenticity of the examination and ultimately the integrity of the certificates issued. Again, examination malpractice is commonly defined as a deliberate wrong doing contrary to official examination rules designed to place a candidate at an unfair advantage or disadvantage, (Akaranga & Ongong, 2013). Jimoh (2009) remarked that examination malpractice is any irregular behaviour exhibited by a candidate or anybody charged with the conduct of examination before, during or after the examination that contravenes the rules and regulations governing such examination. Onuka & Durowoju (2013) defined examination malpractice as any dishonest or unauthorized action or deed committed by a student on his own or in collaboration with others like fellow students, guardians, parents, teachers, head teacher, examination officials, supervisors, invigilators, security officers and anybody or group of people before, during or after examination in order to obtain undeserved marks or grades.

From all the definitions, it is clear that examination malpractice tends to confer undue advantage or undeserved grade to the perpetrators of the act. Again, it may be committed by not only the candidates but also by other bodies charged with the responsibilities of examination management. Undoubtedly, examination malpractice has been a social problem for decades, but the rate and manner it is perpetrated nowadays calls for serious concern. The rate of this crime has become so widespread that there is virtually no examination anywhere at all levels and outside the formal school system that there is no one form of illegal practice or another, (Nnam & Inah, (2015); Ojonemi et al., 2013). Examination malpractices are common everywhere and every examination season witnesses the emergence of new and ingenious ways of cheating, (Nnam &Inah, 2015; Anzene, 2014; Ojonemi et al., 2013; Jimoh, 2009). This study is however examining the causes and the effects of examination malpractices among secondary schools in Langtang North.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The issue of examination malpractices has become a major problem that many researchers have carried out studies on its causes and effect on students in different part of the world. This is because it questions the validity and reliability of examinations and also the authenticity and the recognition of certificate issued thereafter. In the bid to curb this ugly menace of examination malpractice, Federal government of Nigeria enacted Act. 33 of 1999 constitution. This act spelt out the various forms of examination malpractice and the penalties that are attached, which range from a fine of N100, 000 to imprisonment of 3 to 4 years. In the same vein, the state and local governments and non-governmental organizations have mounted series of workshops, seminars, campaigns and talks on the pernicious effects of examination malpractice on the students, educational sector and on the image of the nation at international level. In the same line, several academics have written and attended scholarly conferences to proffer solutions to the problem of examination malpractice; and all these efforts have yielded a little improvement on the challenge to have clean and fair examinations in the country. To further lend a helping hand to surmount this problem of examination mal-practice and it causes and effects as a way of identifying the solution of the prevailing challenges.

1.3       AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The research aimed at addressing the challenges of examination mal-practice on students’ academic performance in some selected secondary schools. In order to achieve the aim of the study, the specific objectives are:

1. To determine the causes of examination malpractice among students’ of secondary schools in Langtang North Local Government of Plateau State.
2. To examine the effects of examination malpractice among students of secondary schools in Langtang North Local Government of Plateau State.
3. To identify the solutions to the issues of examination malpractice among students of secondary schools in Langtang North Local Government of Plateau State.

1.4       RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the causes of examination malpractice among students of secondary schools in Langtang North Local Government of Plateau State?
2. What are the effects of examination malpractice among students of secondary schools in Langtang North Local Government of Plateau State?
3. What are the solutions to the issues of examination malpractice among students of secondary schools in Langtang North Local Government of Plateau State?

1.5 STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS

H0: examination malpractices has no significant effect on the academic performance of secondary school students in Langtang North local government

H0: there are no significant causes of examination malpractice in secondary schools of Langtang North.

H0: there is no significant solution to the issues of examination malpractice among students of secondary schools in Langtang North.

1.6       SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The following are the significance of this study:

• The outcome of this study will be useful to education administrators, teachers and students on the causes, effect and solution to the menace of examination malpractices among secondary school students in Nigeria. It helps education administrators and teachers with in-depth knowledge and awareness of how to fight or curb examination malpractice in order to ensure and promote qualitative education in the area of study. It also helps the students with the knowledge on examination malpractice and how it negatively affects their studies. It also serve as impetus to students to embrace hard work and sincerity which will positively help in leading quality educational output.
• Findings from this study will be useful for future researches as it will constitute part of the empirical literature making it a guide for future researchers.

1.7       SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study is limited to students of selected secondary school in Langtang North Local government area of Plateau State. It will also cover the causes and effects of examination malpractices among them.

1.8       DEFINITION OF TERMS

• MALPRACTICE: any illegal act by an individual or group, by teachers or any other person performing illegal activities against the set standards and regulations of examination.
• EXAMINATION: the act of students or candidate writing a test (as by questions) to determine what they know or have learnt.
• EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE: an act of wrong doing carried out by a candidate or groups of candidate or any other person, with the intention to cheat and gain unfair advantage in an examination.
• EDUCATION: the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university.
• EFFECTS: a change which is as a result or consequence of an action or other cause.