dangers of examination malpractice by eguriase s. m. okaka

Dangers of Examination Malpractice

By Eguriase S. M. Okaka I see examination malpractice as a canker worm eating up gradually the fabrics of our education systems. The word examination malpractice is referring to cheating in the examination hall or when writing an examination. Examination is a test of the student’s ability whether he or she understands what they have been taught within a term or a period of time. If you as a student involve in an examination cheating it means that that student does not understand what he or she was taught earlier on in the classroom. Note to all teachers in the world: when your student takes part in an examination malpractice that is a sign that he or she does not understand what you taught him or her. If they do they will not think of examination malpractice. Those who understood your teachings never get themselves involved in this menace. Examination malpractice has different meaning and understanding to various people around the world but it is generally agreed that examination malpractice is any aid, gesture, material, etc. given or brought into the examination hall that goes against the examination rules and regulation. This could be in the form of talking and spying another’s work in an examination hall. Over the years, this malpractice has taken the form of any illegal and unauthorized assistance given to a candidate or student in an examination. Examination malpractice in Nigeria has attained a frightening level and has been institutionalized. Thus, this trend becomes manifest right from home, where parents who are aware of their children’s academic weakness, pay huge sums of money to see that their wards pass every examination instead of encouraging hard work. Other parents go as far as threatening teachers who refuse to help their children. Schools at all levels, primary, secondary and university are not left out of examination malpractice. Teachers assist students during main examinations in order to boost the prestige of their school. Principals and proprietors also go as far as settling corrupt officials of examining bodies to pass students. For these reasons, students no longer study hard and are often distracted by television and technologies, thereby, descending to the level of importing foreign objects or microchips into examination venue or copying other students’ work. The effects of examination malpractice are numerous and negative. It does not make students appreciate the dignity of labor. Students that grow up with the mentality that money can buy their way out of any taxing endeavor will never understand the dignity in labor. Apart from this, the standard of education in a country is reduced. Half-baked graduates are produced and ignorance grows and enslaves the people. The future is bleak as those who supposed to steer the wheel of progress of a country are swimming in the pool of ignorance and corruption.

All hope is not loss however; all hands must be on deck to check this menace called examination malpractice. First, our homes must teach dignity and honor to children. Religious institutions must preach hard work and fear of God. The society must stand against examination malpractice in any form. The government and non-governmental agencies should award scholarship to hard working and honest students. The fight against examination malpractice is not a one-man fight. All must come together to say No to this menace. I once encounter a student who told me that no student can pass an examination without using an external aid or materials. I answered that you can pass an examination without using what she said above only if you prepare or work hard enough when preparing for the exams. How do you see a student who attends parties when they know that they have an examination to write the very next day? These are the type of student that is ready to cheat in an examination in order to pass it with good grades when she knew that she does not worth it. If we shy away from the fight against examination malpractice today, it will stir us in our faces tomorrow. My warming to all students, if you cheat in an examination to pass that examination it only means that you don’t know or understand that subject. You don’t really know it that is one of the reasons why you are cheating. If you use an external aid to pass an examination that particular exam will reoccur again in the future; if you could not pass it when it reoccurred again then it will bring shame to you. There is this first class graduate in computer science who could not boot a computer just to say the least. How did she obtain a first class degree in computer science when she could not boot a computer? When she got a job in a big establishment in one of states in Nigeria she was not able to boot the computer that she would use during the interview. She sat before the computer looking at it when others who are not first class graduate like her has already started their interview and nearly finishing their various in the typing pool. Well she failed the interview because of that. How would she work with it when she could not boot it? That is what examination malpractice can do to a person. Go and learn on your own and pass examinations yourself without relying on external aid or forces to pass an examination for you. What is the purpose of your education? By Eguriase S. M. Okaka