Among many evils currently plaguing our society today in Nigeria, examination malpractice ranks higher if we look at it hierarchically. It is indisputable that it is now rife to the extent that it has for a long time remained an annual ritual. It has moved in a supersonic way, and as a result, spread its destructive tentacles to our various schools. The rate at which this uncalled-for attitude is finding its way into various examinations conducted yearly in Nigeria and has now arrested every man’s attention. It has without any doubt been firmly rooted in our Secondary Schools, Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and Universities inclusive.
It is now an open secret that most of the examination conducted in Nigeria today for the students are no longer void of examination nuisances. Myriad reasons can be ascribed to the problem. The first reason why students hunt for easier way of winning WAEC, JAMB or any other examination hands down is the need to procure certificate by any means either by hook or crook, since certificate is at present ‘Passport’ to progress and ‘Visa’ to better educational status.
It is awful to see that people have taken up the job of offering question papers for sale, the business that is now lucrative and seems to be gaining the attention of several officials expected to be honest in handling examination matters. Any interested candidate can now, with ease, subscribe to the site called ‘runs’ in the social media and get the desired questions with their answers. What a horrible situation!
The lazy and unserious students are all out to meet the desire of some supposed truthful and scrupulous agents who are expected to be disciplined in their various positions and make examination papers save and impregnable but now turned unscrupulous and unreliable agents. The officials who are expected to be disciplined and trustworthy have chosen to tannish their images by their evil affections and inordinate desire for quick profits. What a pity!
Looking at this from another angle, lack of seriousness on the part of students is another factor that is contributing to this problem. They always take their education with levity and expect miracle to happen. To others, it is lack of confidence. This lack of confidence in student’s ability is often felt by many candidates who have no confidence in themselves.
In the wake of this, they often resort to adopting any available means to cheat during examinations. It is now common practice among students today to involve themselves in examination malpractice.
No matter what happens, some secondary school teachers and lecturers in our higher institutions have their share of the blame. Many of them have descended so low to become tools to be used for exam malpractice in return for sexual gratification. They ought to be perfect examples, worthy of emulation, but the reverse is the case today.
Now what can we say about the so called “Director of studies” who operate in two-room rented apartment called “Tutorial Centres”? They are the directors, who yearly hunt for question papers in order to be patronised. It would not be surprising also that some parents aid their children to cheat or engage in exam malpractice.
Therefore, the consequences are terrible today that certificates are now losing its credibility both inside and outside the country. It has got to a stage where any certificate from Nigerian Universities cannot be easily considered authentic and accepted as a proof of the worth of the holders. Where then lies our being the giant of Africa Continent? – Well, may be in corruption.
The fact still remains that this problem is a social disease. It must now be given a serious attention by the Ministry of Education. Our education in Nigeria is in shambles and needs to be rectified through some of the following ways:
First, I want to appeal to those who are in charge of both external and internal examinations respectively and are responsible for this shameful act. These are the people who are put in the position of trust and we sincerely repose our trust in them. They should stop acceding to this temptation by providing adequate security to ensure that no paper is even leaked. The other accomplices especially teachers and principals are not left out. Any school principal or teacher who connives at cheating should be made to face the music.
Also, the Ministry of Education should device a better way of monitoring the tutorial centres, while parents should encourage their children to work consciously and rely on their efforts.
It is equally incumbent on our various religious leaders to always emphasize that cheating is abominable to a holy life and anybody doing that is an enemy of God.
The government should try as much as possible to at least assuage the problem if it cannot be totally eradicated. They should by all means make sure that all schools meet a minimum standard in facilities, equipment and staffing. There should be the provision of alternative training for those young people whose abilities are not academic. It goes without saying that Nigeria will regain her credibility and prestige and lose the present reputation of incompetence and dishonesty if we all wage war against this putative social evil.
I, therefore, appeal to the people at the helm of affairs to give this problem an urgent attention before it totally gets out of control. It is time we saved our country from this educational mess.
Yaba College of Technology Secondary School was established on the 27th of September, 1999 with an initial population of sixty (60) students, seven (7) full-time and twelve (12) part time staff. The pioneer Principal is Mrs. A.O. Adio-Moses and the pioneer staff on that...read more
