1.1 Introduction
Examination malpractice is an unlawful behavior or activity engaged in by students to have personal advantage in an examination over their colleagues or mates who are taking the same examination. Malpractice could be committed before, during or after the examination by either the students taking the examination or by officials assigned with the administration of the examination (Olushola, 2006). From the psychological point of view saw examination malpractice as all forms of cheating which directly or indirectly falsify the ability of the students. It refers to counter practice that is against the ethics of examination. It is also an act of disrespect to all rules and regulations guiding the good conduct of any examination or any evaluation process (Dike, 2005).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
In Nigeria today, it is no longer news that this malady called examination mal practice has become a monster fighting the development of education in Nigeria. The alarming causes and effects of this menace have led us to this research work. They’ve equally been a lot of controversies on the actual causes of examination malpractice, most people believe government should be held responsible while some others are of the opinion that the increasing rate of this unholy act is entirely down to Nigerian students.
In the real fact examination is usually employed to mark either pass or fail is constantly applied to a collection of students. It collaborate the view of Stephen where he declares that history as to back up the view setting children against one another in trials and competition has always been a respectable means of inciting them to deal because examination is used to measure the academic performance of every students. With this mind, they have always strived to pass. In the same vein, it also encourages a kind of competition within a collection of students who will aim at the attainable highest mark in classes.
Sincerely, examination malpractice is a canker worm that has eaten deep into the nations fabrics; it has become a menace to the Nigeria society. Presently, our educational system is in shambles this is as a result of inconsistencies and carelessness, non-implementation of educational policies, and corrupt practices in high places. As it stands, perhaps, the most potent threat to our educational system in the country is examination malpractices. This menace has enthroned itself like a king in our various academic institutions. The climax is the constant alarming failure rate recorded in the Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council and the constant graduation of unemployable graduates from our higher institutions. The malady continues to generate heat among concerned citizens, scholars, governments and the media.
Examination malpractices are those illegal actions taken during examination that are against the rules of an examination. Examination malpractice in Nigeria is in diverse dimension spanning from talking in an examination to coming in with books or use of electronic devices like cell phones and gadgets in communication during an examination, more alarming is the constant leaking of examination questions before the scheduled date of the examination. Simply put examination malpractice any form of illegal and unauthorized assistance given to a single candidate or group of candidates in an examination.
Examination malpractice is not a new event in Nigeria, maduemezia (2008) reported that the first examination malpractice in Nigeria was recorded in 1914 during the senior council local examination papers which were leaked before the scheduled date of the examination. Examination malpractice which started on a less pronounced scale only increased geometrically afterwards. Examination malpractice is one of those cardinal factors inhibiting or militating against the growth of education in Nigeria. The rate at which people indulge in this unholy act caused more harm than good in the development of education in Nigeria. This canker worm has led to institutions producing half baked graduates of secondary school leavers.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Statistical Analysis of Examination Malpractice.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the menace of examination malpractice has done in a calculable average not only to our educational system but also to our national economic life and social life of the country. Examination malpractice brings general indiscipline in schools, mass displacement of talents and Wastage of our national resources.
Examination malpractice makes the objectives of examination as a measure of classification by competences, skills job placement and diagnosis of academic failure useless. It has become an idea from the background of this work that examination plays a very useful role in our education and society at large. It is a very rare phenomenon to see where honest examinations are conducted.
However, as early as 70s examination malpractices have been reported in our education cycle. Malpractice has been a nationwide scourge and of which Anambra State is also inclusive. For this reason is made to investigate the extent it has gone in the area of the study have and why it happens mainly in secondary schools in Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Statistical Analysis of Examination Malpractice in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To find out the major causes of examination mal practice in Nigeria;
- To educate the general public on the causes and effects of examination malpractice;
- To know if there is a statistical relationship between examination malpractice, gender and age group;
- To find out the major effects of examination mal practice in Nigeria;
- To know if there is a significant relationship between the high level of unemployment and examination malpractice in Nigeria; and
- To recommend ways of eradicating examination mal practice in Nigeria.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Is there any statistical relationship between examination malpractice, gender and age group?
- Is there any significant relationship between the high level of unemployment and examination malpractice in Nigeria?
- What are the major effects of examination mal practice in Nigeria?
- What are the major causes of examination mal practice in Nigeria?
- What is the general public on the causes and effects of examination malpractice?
- What is the ways of eradicating examination mal practice in Nigeria?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant relationship between examination malpractice and unemployment in Nigeria.
- H1: There is a significant relationship between examination malpractice and unemployment in Nigeria.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There is no significant relationship between age and examination malpractice in Nigeria.
- H1: There is a significant relationship between age and examination malpractice in Nigeria.
Hypothesis Three
- H0: There is no significant relationship between gender and examination malpractice in Nigeria.
- H1: There is a significant relationship between gender and examination malpractice in Nigeria.
1.7 Significance of Study
This research topic has been chosen by the researcher to find out at which extent examination malpractice affect the educational career of the students in Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State and the national standard. This research will provide some useful principles for the government, organizations, private bodies, institutions, teachers and candidates to eliminate or minimize the depressing standard of education in Nigeria.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Statistical Analysis of Examination Malpractice in Nigeria using Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Examination: The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines of Current English defines it’s related to education as an assessment tool to determine the level of learning of student or pupils.
Malpractice: The Oxford Advance Learners Dictionary defines malpractice as careless, wrong or illegal behavior while in a professional job.
Secondary School Students: These are the formal school learners receiving education after primary school and before tertiary or university stage.
