Examination malpractice its conseqences on students academic performance in Delta State

Examination malpractice its conseqences on students academic performance in Delta State

ABSTRACT

This study examined examination malpractice its consequences on students’ academic performance in Delta State. Four research questions guide the study. Literatures were reviewed under conceptual framework and empirical related studies. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. Population of the study consisted of all 877 teachers and 14,337students of public secondary schools in Oshimili South L.G.A., Delta State. The sample for the study comprised 380 respondents made up of 260 JS3 and SS3 (130 from each level) students and 120 teachers. This number was selected from 10 schools; 38 respondents (30 students and 8 teachers) from each school.  The instruments for data collection were structured questionnaires designed by the researcher. The instruments were entitled; Examination Malpractice its Consequences on Students’ Academic Performance Questionnaire (EMCSAPQ). The validation of the instrument was done by two experts in measurement and evaluation and Educational Foundations in Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State. The reliability of a research instrument depends on the ability of the instrument to measure what it was designed to measure at different times giving relatively the same result. To ensure the reliability of the instrument, a trial test was conducted. The split-half method of test was used. Forty (40) respondents (20 teachers and 20 students) from other schools outside the area of the study were selected and engaged in the trial test. The results generated from the tests were subjected to a test of coefficient relationship with the use of Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) at 0.05 alpha level of coefficient. An index value of 0.63 was attained; the value was significantly higher than 0.05. Consequently, the instrument was adjudged reliable. In furtherance of the process of data collection, the researcher administered 380 copies of the instrument. The researcher personally visited the schools and carried out the study with the support of two guided research assistants. The administered copies of the instrument were retrieved the same days. Out of the 380 copies administered only 350 representing 93% were returned and used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables in line with the research questions raised in chapter one. The data presented were analyzed with the use of frequency count, mean and standard deviation.  Findings of the study revealed that there are forms of examination malpractice common among secondary school students, students to a high extent students perceive examination malpractice as a shortcut to academic success, there are ways educational institution address and prevent examination malpractice and there are psychological and ethical implication of engaging in examination malpractice. Some recommendations were made to improve students’ academic performance.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the study

According to Oduwaiye (2014), an examination or a test is an assessment that is planned or intended to measure a test taker’s knowledge or skill, aptitude, physical fitness or classification in many other topics. Oduwaiye further stated that a test may be administered orally, onAcco paper on a computer or in a confirmed area that requires a test taker to physically perform a set of skills. The author again opined that presents person with a series of tasks geared towards determining the person  acquired knowledge and skills.

Examination malpractice is defined as any deliberate act of wrongdoing, contrary to the rules of examination designed to give a candidate an undue advantage. (Obo 2008), obo added that examination malpractice which is also called cheating which is an illegal action that students take during their examination to try to make good grades, examination malpractice is an act or irregular manner of testing candidate that disobey the rules and conventions guiding the conduct of examination. Makaula further stated that examination malpractice has done alot of harm to students since many of them have neglected their books with the hope of performing the magics, they have been using in various examination to pass. To Omonijo (2010), examination misconduct is careless, unlawful or undesirable actions put up by candidates in any official assessment of his or her intellectual capability in a specific subject. In the words of Asante kyei and Nduro (2014), examination malpractice is a thoughtful practice of misconduct by stakeholders including academic authority, students, teachers and parents. Before the examination, during the examination and post-examination to lift the academic image of the students and the school in the evaluation and assessment. According to Busayo (2008), cheating in an examination is an inappropriate and fraudulent way to obtain an under served advantage over the other candidate. To Bruno and Obidigbo (2012), examination malpractice is any act which the stakeholders in education teachers, parents, students or educational administrators carry out to inflate the grades of the students in examination results. Examination malpractice in the educational system of Delta state is being widely discussed and seen as the main challenge to stakeholders in education and the society at large.

Akarange and ongong (2013), indicated the following as consequence of examination malpractice in their study. Dismissal of students from educational institutions, bad study habits, corruption, denial of admission to genuine students . Similarly Onyechere (2008) conducted a study on examination malpractice and found the following as consequences of examination malpractice.

1. Discouragement of brilliant candidates to study hard. Good candidate are curious to believe that some average students perform better in examination through cheating. The phenomenon makes brilliant students not being serious with their books, hoping that during examination they would have access to examination questions in advance or take script notes to examination halls to answer questions and pass.
2. Deprivation of innocent students opportunity for admission. Most students are being deprived of or denied admission by the action of corrupted students who engaged in examination malpractice as a result, have good grades and therefore blocked the chance of the innocent students.
3. Reduction in works efficiency: inefficiency in the job market as a result of examination malpractice has a great impact on a country’s economy. This is because people who are employed to work are ineffective.

Khanje (2009) stated that consequences of examination malpractice could be experienced immediately when cheating occurred or after a long period. Some effects of malpractice affect people while others affect a whole school, the entire education system, or a country as a whole consequences on an individual include cancellation of students examination results or dismissal of a teacher who involved himself/herself in examination cheating. When the case of examination cheating is servere, the perpetrators are put before the law court and subsequently prosecuted. Some culprits if convicted are made to pay necessary fines or go to prison when they do not have the means to pay the proposed amount.

Anzene (2014), observed in a study on causes and consequences of examination malpractice with concern that students who indulged in examination malpractices mostly lose their moral identity and directions. Anzene stated that those individuals that indulge in examination malpractice are no more recognizing ethics as worth discharging duties that are expected of them honestly. If students who involved in examination malpractice during their school days and for example became lawyers, they are likely to become ineffective and corrupt judges and lawyers who would eventually promote unfair cases simply because some of them may not be able to distinguish between who is a complaint and who is an  accused individual. Anzene further contended that so long as examination cheating is rampant in the educational system, it is likely that educational institution would have ended up in the production of doctors who would easily forget a pair of scissors, pins, blades and other surgical operation tools in the stomach of the patient after operations. Anzene again stated that this menace examination malpractice shall be in continuity to harvest students with good grades and distinctions in examination but these students would not have quality knowledge in the subject or courses they offered in their respective schools and therefore perform poorly at their workplaces. The author added by saying that the educational system would persist to prepare and produce teachers who are without adequate knowledge to teach and impact good knowledge to their students and also produce incompetent lawyers who would find it very difficult to deliver good justice in our society.

Makaula (2018) conducted a study on examination malpractice and found that; indiscipline among secondary school students, insufficient students preparation for the examination, the desire of students to pass the examination at all cost, lack of positive self-concept, lack of good study habits, laziness on the part of students and lack of teaching and learning materials causes examination malpractice. Similarly Nyandwi (2017) indicated in a study that factors that causes examination malpractice were; Unconducive teaching and learning environment, Pressure from parents/peers to pass an examination, Indiscipline among students, Inadequate preparation towards examination rating of schools, according to academic performance and ineffective supervision during examinations.

Statement of Problem

The persistent incidence of examination misconduct has be major concern to stakeholders of education. According to Adebayo (2012) and Abuga (2015), examination malpractices pose a great threat to the reliability and validity of educational assesement. Akaranga and Ongong (2013), indicated the following as consequences of examination malpractices in their study: Dismissal of students from educational institution bad study habits, corruption, denial od admission to genuine students and lack of confidence in the certificate. The issue of examination malpractice has become very rampant in Nigeria tertiary institutions. This is a source of concern by educational stakeholders, scholars like Akanni and Udofin (2015) Nnam and Inah (2015) and Asore (2014) carried out their studies on condequences and possible ways of reducing examination malpractice in Delta State Secondary schools. However scanty or no report has address the consequeces associated with examination malpractice due to inability to sought investigative meseaure in place. Therefore the index study is sought to investigate the consequences of examination malpractice on student academic performance.

1.3   Aim and Objective of the Study

General Objective

The aim of the study is to examine the consequnecs of examination malpractice on students’ academic performance among secondary school in Delta State

Specific Objective of the Study

The specific objectives of the study were to:

• Identify the forms of examination malpractice most common among secondary school students.
• Ascertain the extent students perceive examination malpractice as a shortcut to academic success
• Find out how educational institution address and prevent examination malpractice.
• What are the psychological and ethical implication of engaging in examination malpractice

1.4     Research Question

1.5     Significance of the study

The index study will ensure a possible and critical research for the consequences and solution to examination malpractice in schools

Specifically exposing the unprecendented extent of involvement of students and the entire society in examination malpractice

To examine the consequences of examination malpractice on students academic performance in Delta State

To ascertain different types of examination malpractices

To Suggest possible solution for eradicating the problem of examination malpractices.

1.6 Delimitation of the Study

The researcher intends to center research study on the consequences of examination malpractices on students academic performance in Delta State

1.7 Definition of Terms

Examination malpractice is commonly defined as a deliberate wrong doing contrary to official examination rules designed to place to candidate at an unfair advantage or disadvantage.

Consequnces means all consequnces including but not limited to claims, demand, liabilities, proceedings, fines, damages, cost delays, loss of or damage to or loss of use property loss of revenue and loss of profit.

Academic performance is the knowledge gained which is assessed by marks by a teacher and or educational goals set by students and teacher to be achieved over a specific period of time.

Pages:  93

Category: PGDE

Format:  Word & PDF               

Chapters: 1-5                                          

Source: Imsuinfo

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.