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By Adil Gbadegesin
A recent research publication revealed a staggering increase in examination malpractice in the last ten years. Nigerian students, teachers and parents across the nation have embraced it as a way of life and regard it as just another part of the Nigerian education system. Examination malpractice can be defined as any action or process carried out, either by students, teachers, parents or invigilators, with the intent of awarding an examination candidate with a score he or she did not strive properly to achieve.
In Nigeria, it is a system. A system so properly orchestrated it is akin to organised crime. The questions we must now ask ourselves are: What caused this dilemma? What effect does it have on our society and its future? How can we get rid of this disease?
Examination malpractice in Nigeria dates back to the late 2000s, but what started as mere talking in the exam hall has become the bane of our country’s education system. The causes of examination malpractice, like most problems in the modern world, is greed and laziness. Malpractice in Nigeria is a business and quite a profitable one at that. The officials in charge of these examinations, who were entrusted with the future of our nation, sell exam scripts to make quick cash and students, teachers and parents alike line up eager to pay. A study conducted a year ago interviewed 100-level students and asked them if they were involved in any form of examination malpractice that profited the invigilator or other exam officials. When the answers were gathered and the data was organised, it was revealed that over ninety-seven percent of schools in Nigeria paid their way in “all-round As”. Isn’t that astonishing? Nowadays, students don’t even bother to study as it has become common knowledge that help will be passed around. Students are too lazy to study their way into success. Parents, afraid that twelve years of investment will go down the drain, are forced to empty their wallets to this ungodly way.
These developments did not come without grave consequences. Just as a rotten egg spoils the crate, an ill education system will inevitably make the country sick. The most notable consequence is its effect on tertiary education. Universities across the nation are complaining and are frustrated by the constant admission of weak students. Students themselves are struggling to keep up with the demands of tertiary education with such poor foundations.
How can we expect pupils who spent the entirety of their primary and secondary education reliant on shortcuts and free marks to cope with the complex topics taught in universities? Outside the immediate consequences, one does not need a crystal ball to predict that in the coming years, there will be an epidemic of unqualified professionals who will hinder the progress of the nation. Weak engineers will lead to weak infrastructure and weak doctors will lead to an even weaker healthcare system. The gravest consequence of exam malpractice is that it will tarnish the reputation of our country’s education system.
Are we doomed? Is there no hope for us? No, there are solutions to these problems and we can fix this broken system. The most promising measure that we can adopt is to enforce stricter laws and give harsher punishments for offenders and those guilty of examination malpractice. The educational and exam bodies should invest in better surveillance and conduct random assessments on students to fish out schools guilty of this heinous crime. Articles such as the one you are reading now should be widespread. This will increase awareness of parents, teachers and students on the consequences of exam malpractice.
In conclusion, exam malpractice goes almost as far back as our education system and its effects and consequences are too serious to ignore. We are not destined to be victims of these consequences. If we enforce strict laws, we can rebuild our examination and education system and make it better than ever before.
• Gbadegesin, writes from Lagos. 12 Churchill Honeyland Schools.
