Introduction
1.1 Background to Study
One of the major problems confronting educational institutions especially secondary school in Nigeria is examination malpractice. It is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of the society, and it has become so rampant among secondary school students in Nigeria that many regard it as a normal process of passing examination.
The value and functionality of any educational system lie in its ability to actualize the goals of education. In educational systems, world over, the examination process makes thedifference. The goals 0 national educational systems and indeed national development become like mirage if examination ethics is not encouraged and instituted (Nwadiani, 2005). Till date, examinations still remain the best tool for an objective assessment and evaluation of what learners have achieved after a period of schooling. Hence, any actions that undermines examinations poses a great threat to the validity and reliability of ex animation results and certification.
Unfortunately, the process of examination in Nigeria secondary schools especially in Lagos State has become a “contemporary shame” (Nwadiani, 2005). This is because of the phenomenon of examination malpractice that has become endemic in the educational system. The Examination Malpractice Act (1999) explains examination malpractice as any act of omission r commission by a person who in anticipation of, before during or after any examination fraudulently secure an 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. Oluyeba and Daramola (cited in Alutu & Aluede, 2006) 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 regulations governing the conduct of such examination.
In Nigeria, the last two decades have witnessed an alarming rate of increase in incidents of examination misconduct among secondary school students. Evidences abound of increasing involvement in examination malpractice by students, teachers and parents (Vanguard, 2005; Weekend Pointer, 2005; Daily Independent, 2004). The incidence of examination malpractice 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 sharp practice or the other.
The incidences of examination malpractice are common everywhere and every examination season witnesses the emergence of new and ingenious ways of cheating. Though examination malpractice is neither a recent phenomenon nor is it peculiar to Nigeria or Africa (Awanbors, 2005), the alarming rate of increase is a global issue. The alarming rate of increase in examination malpractice in secondary schools in Nigeria calls for concern from all stakeholders in the education sector. It h s been widely reported that parents and teachers aid and abet examination malpractice directly or indirectly. (Vanguard, 2005; Weekend Pointer, 2005; Daily Independent, 2004 Nigerian Tribune, 2009). Parents go to the extent of bribing their way through to ensure that their wards get unearned grades while teachers encourage examination malpractice because they lack the zeal to work but want to be praised for job not done (Alutu & Aluede, 2006). According to Omoluabi and Uzoka 2006), the value system in Nigeria has broken down completely and so adults and youths alike act without moral scruples. This is the reason why examination malpractice still thrives despite its grave consequences on the social political and economic structures of the nation.
Although the efforts seem to be yielding some results, yet incidences of examination malpractice still feature prominently in the school system.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The educational system in Nigeria has many problems but examination malpractice constitutes one of the greatest because it threatens the very foundation of the system. Students’ engagement n examination malpractice constitutes not only a deviant behaviour, but also affects the reliability of examination certificate issued to those students who engage In examination The sole reliance upon examination results t day in Nigeria has made students to see examination certificates as the only way out of their ‘misery’. Therefore, the resort to various corrupt practices to achieve ‘successes’ in examination. But will not be able to defend and justify it. Similarly, they will not be able to confront adequately the challenges of later life. Such examination mischief makers are liabilities to any employer and the society in general.
It has severally been argued that examination malpractice is just one aspect of general moral decadence in the society. But as Onyechere (1996) pints out that, the educational system must rise above moral decadence since it holds the only hope for the transformation of youth and for future political, social and economic sanity. The continuous existence of examination malpractice in Lagos State Senior Secondary Schools, resulting into perceived fall in standard of education calls for very great concern among stakeholders in the education industry. There are reported cases of principals’ sale of school properties, embezzlement of school fees and unclaimed salaries of retired, dead or transferred teachers. There are also series of report about teachers and principals collecting money from students for the award of inflated marks and aiding and abetting examination malpractice in the writing of Junior and Senior School, Certificate Examination.
In the words of the Lagos State Commissioner of Education (2004:3) it has been reported that some principals and Headmasters are still collecting unauthorized levies from unsuspecting parents and innocent children. In the light of the above observation certain pertinent questions could be asked. Could the present laxity and unseriousness on the part of students, tea her and principals be attributed to ineffective implementation of the aims and objective of examination malpractice Act in Nigeria especially in Lagos State?
Therefore from the above statement of problems the researcher aim is to determine the principal management behaviour and examination malpractice in Lagos State secondary schools using Agege Local Government as a case study.
