EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE CASES IN NIGERIAN EDUCATION

EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE CASES IN NIGERIAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

The first cited case of examination malpractice after independence was in 1977. The people and government of Nigeria were very much bothered or perturbed about the ‘bug’ and consequent upon which the Federal Government established a panel to investigate the problem and make appropriate recommendations on how to have a lasting solution to the problem. Part of the recommendations was to promulgate a decree to deal with the offenders. In line with this recommendation, decree 20 of 1984 was promulgated (Igbe, 2004, in Aliyu, 2006). Agada (2002) in Diwa H. and Atabo C. (2006), states three broad forms of examination malpractice which include:
i) Pre-examination malpractice: This occurs when the examiner obtains the question paper before the examination or has the prior knowledge of its content.
ii) During examination malpractice: At this stage, it occurs when the examination is being held.
According to Usman and Obadiah (2004) in Diwa H. and Atabo C. (2006) during examination
Malpractice manifests in the form of:

a. Impersonation
b. Getting external assistance
c. Bringing into examination hall materials other than those allowed but which are relevant to the examination.
d. Copying or writing relevant points on palms or hiding the materials in “precious parts” handkerchief, underwear, pocket, shoes etc.
e. Communication through exchange of answer booklets, question papers on which answers having written.
iii) Post examination Malpractice: This form occurs after the examination. It is carried out though rewriting of the paper after the examination and changing the scores or arbitrary award of scores with the connivance of supervisors, examiners, custodians of answer sheets, typists etc.