Corruption in high places: A case of examination malpractice

Examination Malpractice, a menace that has ignored all corrections; a deadly disease that all drugs administered on it has refused to cure. Those who made the corrective measures are also found at fault.

Those who prescribe the drugs are the deadly viruses. Those in high places are the culprits. Examination, which is said to be a test of knowledge, is now a test of smartness, since it has been exposed to various malpractices over the years.

Malpractices in the educational sector entail all forms of shady deals, leakages in the process of writing, printing and storage of question papers, entering into the examination venue with prepared answers and other written materials, external assistance to candidates through teachers, invigilators and supervisors, spying in the examination hall by individual candidates, paying mercenaries to write exams for an absent candidate.

The teachers, parents, government and students are known as the stakeholders within the education sector. This is true because educational policies are made by the government while teachers implement them and parents, through the Parents Teachers’ Associations.

The students are the raw materials of the sector. However, examination malpractice has been a raging monster in the nation’s education sector and all the stakeholders are found to be guilty. Parents who should encourage seriousness in academics pursuits are sources of discouragement.

They enroll their children in various “special centres” where they are assisted to pass their exams. Some parents pay as much as N25,000 for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation examination instead of the official fee of N4,000.

This assistance can be in various forms depending on the amount of money paid. Some parent also bribe employees of educational institutions so that their children could gain admissions. Teachers who should impart knowledge are part of this disgraceful act. They sell grades to students. Grades that should be earned by a display of knowledge are sold by the tools that impart the knowledge.

This has been a re-occurring issue in most educational institutions. I often ask myself these questions: What is the use of the six years spent in secondary school, if students will be assisted during senior school exams?

What is the use of four years spent in the university, if grades will be paid for during semester exams? Our students who should be bothered about acquiring knowledge are bothered about the acquisition of certificates–certificate that should be awarded for being worthy in character and learning. Students with no evidence of learning and character are awarded with certificates. Students cheat during exams. They spy in the examination halls.

They sometimes use their pocket money to pay lecturers for grades. Female students sometimes date lecturers in order to earn marks. Examination malpractice is fast becoming a norm in our society. Those who are against it are seen as “the uncivilized,” “the unreasonable,” or sometimes “the fools”.

But the truth is that until examination malpractice is eliminated in our society, the fight against corruption will remain a mirage. This is because examination is the principal form of corruption which eats deep into the moral fabric of an individual as well as the society.

It is justifiable to say that a person who acquires his certificate dubiously will not hesitate to embezzle public funds. Government is also part of this evil act. When culprits of examination malpractice are caught, instead of allowing them to face the law, they would be released, if they are related to one big man in the society.

We all can rid this country of examination malpractice. We all can agree to restore the standard of education in our society. Parents should stop enrolling their children or wards in “special centers”. The government should allow those caught to face the wrath of the law. Solving this persistent problem begins with you.