Abstract
The term ICT refers to Information Communication Technology that encompasses various devices that necessitate the electronic transmission of information. Examination Malpractices involves Candidates cheating using an authorized material in doing Examination hence have a lieu advantage over others at the same level of competition. The purpose of this study was to access the available ICT Technologies that can be used to curb Examination malpractices and examined the available loopholes in the current education system. The evolution of technological devices for the communication in the society has made candidates to access, retrieve and store information related to the Examination in Electronic format hence making it difficult for the traditional methods of supervision and invigilation of Examination administration to be used absolutely to curb the vice of Examination Malpractice. The objectives of this study were 1) To examine methods of examination Malpractice in the current system of Education and 2) To examine available ICT methods used to curb examination Malpractice. The study adopted a descriptive survey design in which structured questionnaires were used to collect data from a sample of two hundred (200) Form Four students and twenty two (22) teachers in charge of Examination administration selected randomly from twenty (20) schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS computer program and presented inform of frequency tables, Percentages and graphs in the discussions of the findings. The findings of the study showed that use of mobile phones is more prevalence among learners as a key method of Examination Malpractice at 32.00%, followed by the use of written materials at 24.00% hence these devices should be used as learning tools as opposed for Examination malpractice. The study found out that the use of ICT was preferred at 84.00% as a means to end Examination malpractice in the current Education System in Nigeria. Teachers and students supported Computerization of Examination process at 50.00% by installing CCTV cameras at 71.43% in all Examination Centre’s and Biometric finger prints. The use of ICT in Examination administration process would reduce examination malpractice through the use confidential passwords for each candidate doing computerized Examination.
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
1.1 Background of study
A few years ago, there emerged a hitherto unknown and detestable phenomenon in the conduct of examinations in the Nigeria education system. This phenomenon is now popularly referred to as Examination Malpractice.
The advent of this repugnant practice can be traced to the heritage of our Education System. The colonial government established and passed on a highly academic and segregationist system based on race, sex, religion, intelligence, fees and ethnicity. Prior to independence, access to education by indigenous people was limited and of poor quality as documented by Tiberondwa (1989). The level of education was determined by the end user i.e. the employers who were the missionaries, the administrators, settlers and traders. The idea was to give indigenous people only basic education to make them efficient farm laborers, industrial and office workers in government or as Bible readers. The need to get the best from the enrolled students led to the introduction of examinations.
The system progressed further, to recognize only those students who managed to pass in academic subjects, according them the privilege to proceed for further studies. The higher the standard of education attained i.e. certificate, diploma or degree, the better the chances of a lucrative job.
Sadly, the education reforms after independence, to date, have failed to eradicate the inequalities related to gender, class, sex, religion, language and intelligence to mention a few. The reason could be attributed to the emergence of a breed of the minority Nigeria elite who have in a way replaced the pre-independence Nigeria colonial masters particularly in the education sector. They have effectively manipulated the education system to safeguard their interests. Schools like Chengelo in Mkushi and Baobab in Lagos are a preserve of the rich. Unfortunately, even mission schools, formerly open to poor Nigerias are now a domain of the rich. Schools such as St Paul’s, their fees, structure and academic entry requirements clearly favour rich Nigerias with privileged basic/primary education rather than those from humble backgrounds. Discrimination based on gender e.g. Kabulonga Girls and Kabulonga Boys, Intelligence e.g. Hillcrest and David Kaunda are also in existence.
Computerizing of the examination process is a major aspect of curbing examination malpractice in the country such that if all the process of designing examination dispatch of examination materials and processing are computerized then we shall have minimal risk of examination cheating. This is an expensive process for the government to invest in but it’s the ultimate solution to various problems facing the examination process in the country (Ayua, 2006).
This could involve providing learners with computerized examination which is either blended or online restricted with password of referential integrity to access only by authorized candidates at a specified interval of time. This can be done collectively by the ministry of information and communication technology to provide secure communication channels for conducting examination in the country with minimal interruptions of signal transmission. Onakwakpor, (2005) mentioned that the installed program software for conducting examination should be user friendly and self-driven to guide candidates on how to respond to questions and accurately estimates time allocated for each paper without necessarily prompting them for correct response to correct question.
Computerization of examination administration would greatly improve the integrity of National examination and greatly reduce on the overall cost incurred by the government to run and administer national examination in the country. The installed computerized ICT program could be expensive but could be cheaper in the long run once implemented in the country. Computerization of examination processing would speed up the process of the feedback to candidates and improve on efficiency and effectiveness to minimize human errors that arose as a result of computerization of final scores awarded to each student.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Examination Malpractice has been a great menace affecting the Education system in Nigeria. It is a vice that has been aggravated by the evolution of technology and modern means of communication like the use of mobile phones, internet and social media platforms of communication. Candidates sitting for an Examination have gone high tech on how to access information related to specific questions in the question papers being examined. Over the years candidates have had their results cancelled because of Examination irregularities and the numbers are increasing at alarming rate. The expectation of Ministry of Education and Nigeria National Examinations Councils also known as WAEC in Nigeria is to release the results for all candidates who registered and sat a given examination in a particular year on merit. This study examines Examination Malpractice and the available ICT technologies that can be used to curb menace.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study was to examine how ICT can be used to curb examination malpractice in the current Education system in Nigeria.
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The objectives of this study were;
1.4.1 To examine methods of Examination Malpractice in the current system of Education in Nigeria
1.4.2 To examine available ICT methods used to curb Examination Malpractice in Nigeria.
1.5 Research Questions
1. What methods of Examination Malpractice are there in the Current system of Education?
2. How can ICT be used to curb Examination Malpractice in Nigeria?
1.6 Significance of the Study
The findings of this study are useful to the Ministry of Education Stakeholders, teachers, parents and policy makers in finding appropriate measures to curb Examination Malpractice in the Country and ensure the integrity standards are adhered to when administering, processing and releasing creditable and reliable Examination results for decision making.
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