Exam malpractices ‘ll hinder Nigeria’s devt –Expert

By Josephine Oguntoyinbo & Bukola Olamona
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A University don, Dr Fredrick Akinkuotu has averred that a society where students involve in examination malpractices will suffer inadequate manpower and productivity.

He affirmed that lack of preparation by students for examination, poor teaching habit by some teachers and poor moral upbringing are some of the reasons for examination malpractice in Nigeria which according to him is one of the hydraheaded problems bedeviling the education system.

Akinkuotu, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Banking and Finance, University of Lagos maintained that other factors responsible for this ugly trend include poor implementation of examination rules, parental threats, poor invigilation, collusion, peer pressure and disloyalty of some examination bodies.

To combat students fraud, he advised government to increase interest in learning, by providing enabling environment in terms of infrastructural development and equipment, employment of qualified teachers noting that examination malpractice hindered knowledge and practical skills leading to the production of half baked graduates which has retarded education growth and development.

He equally recommended that all states across the federation should constitute examination ethics committees ,increase number of invigilators and supervisors in the examination hall, have strong guardiance and counseling service in each school, while students should be thoroughly examined to ensure that there is no extraneous materials with them while entering the examination hall.

Akinkuotu added that CCTV cameras and drones should be introduced as monitoring aids to prevent those who are smart enough to smuggle in materials from using them, disqualify anyone caught from such examination while teachers should be renumerated and adequately trained as examination malpractice affect all facets of the society negatively.

He stressed the need for parents and guardians to buy necessary learning materials for their children and wards, monitor them and ensure that  they adequately prepare for examinations.

On his own , Ondo State Chairman of PTA, Chief Abimbola Omoloja said  unless there is a drastic change, educational system and the future of Nigerian youths will be doomed with the rate at which examination malpractice has eaten deep in the system.

 Omoloja said examination malpractice has become a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of students in Nigeria, saying all hands must be on deck to put an end to it.

 Speaking also, the Principal of Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, Akure, Mrs Taiye Bola described examination malpractice as  an evil that is trending in schools nowadays, adding that it is not allowing some students to be serious anymore and study, knowingfully well that they have ‘miracle centres’ somewhere.

On his own,  Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Revd Akin Asaniyan said examination malpractice is perpetrated by students, teachers and parents which he described as not acceptable .