Assessing the Impact of Examination Malpractices on the Measurement of Ability in Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this research work was to assess the impact of examination malpractices on the measurement of ability in Nigeria. The design of this study is survey research. A sample of 300 students and 100 lecturers randomly selected from four universities in North Central Nigeria was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire developed by the researcher. Four research questions were answered and one hypothesis was tested. The result indicates that lecturers and students indulge in examination malpractice in Nigeria. It is affirmed that examination malpractice is caused by undue emphasis on paper qualification, fear of failure and inadequate preparation among other factors. The result also shows that the major types of examination malpractice being perpetuated in universities are possession of ‘foreign materials’ during examination, collusion by students to cheat in examination and continuous assessment malpractice. It reveals further that examination malpractice leads to lack of confidence in Nigerian educational products, results in half-baked graduates, discourages hard work and lowers the standard of education. The article maintains that the calamity of examination malpractice is not just the havoc it wrecks in our educational system but the gradual indoctrination of youths into the practice of fraud. It is recommended that examination malpractice legislation should be enforced and that guidance and counseling services be adequately provided in universities to minimize the incidence of examination malpractice.

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