Students' perceived causes and effects of examination malpratices: implications for counselling strategies

Abstract

Examination malpractice has become the most serious problem threatening the entire fabric of our educational system. The problem is so alarming that all the stakeholders in the educational system have expressed serious concern about it and the need to find solution to it. Thus, this study attempted to investigate the perception of students about the causes and effect of examination malpractices. All public secondary schools and two private secondary schools participated in the study. In all 1500 students were sampled for the study. A self- constructed interview guide was used to collect data on the study under clinical condition. Four research questions were raised and answered using frequency, ordinary percentages and mean scores. Results indicate that laziness, unseriousness, uncompleted syllabus, fear of failure and poor reading skills were identified by students as causes of examination malpractices. The identified effects range from low self-esteem to expulsion from school and cancellation of result. Based on these findings, it was recommended that continuous enlightenment and motivation of students, teaching of language skills and study skills and employment of competent and disciplined teachers would help to check this menace. Counselling implications include the need for each consellor in each school to render guidance services to the school and community to assist in stabilizing students' emotions and future orientations and, to carry out enlightenment programmes and workshops on inculcating values such as integrity, honesty and hard work.

The Nigerian Journal of Guidance and Counselling Vol. 9(1) 2004: 37-53