|
The Nigerian SSCE and GCE are worst hit by this menace. I had an interesting meeting with a lady who told me she had passed her NECO SSCE with flying colours. “Congratulations, you had eight B2,” I said to her, genuinely glad at her ‘achievement’.
“Thank you Uncle,” she replied unhappily.
“Why are you not excited at your result?” I wondered.
“I am afraid”, she complained. “I am very worried that I cannot defend this result. Would they ask me to defend it, uncle?” I was stunned. Eight B2 (distinctions) for a blockhead! It is proof that things have gone overboard.
Why is it that very many, if not most, students refuse to take the SSCE in the school they attended? Instead they become external candidates in other schools, where they pay exorbitant fees that allow them to perpetrate examination malpractice. The Ministries of Education and the examination bodies do not take cognizance of this trend. Even when they do, it is only to pay lip service to their responsibilities. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many schools have tagged the fee that candidates pay for ease in carrying out examination malpractice ‘cooperation fees’ or ‘practical fees’.
The best explanation that candidates give for changing their schools is that candidates don’t pass examinations there, particularly if the school is one with some reputation for examination ethics. Hence they go to a place where their ‘success’ will be guaranteed. Why would exam bodies and the Ministry of Education permit external candidates to sit for SSCE, a school examination? The ability to enroll in any school is partially responsible for the recalcitrant behavior and indiscipline in today’s students. We seem to have lost track of what the GCE was meant for.
The special centers usually advertise a hundred percent pass in all external examinations. What a shame! The mind-boggling question is whether examiners pass candidates on the basis of the center in which an examination was written. Little wonder that an over 50% increase in SSCE enrolment is recorded in such centers (schools) every year and no investigations are carried out by anyone. Invigilators, exam officials, police and Ministry of Education inspectors who have been ‘settled’ with the cooperation fee allow malpractice to go on without hitches. It is only those centers that cannot pay the cooperation fee which examination bodies and Ministries of Education expose to media publicity when one or two candidates are unfortunately caught in malpractice.
Most private schools, if not all, invest huge sums of money, which students contribute to cooperation fees to sponsor exam malpractice in order to maintain a high performance in certificate exams. Sometimes they record exam success as high as 100%. 2004 statistics indicate that Zamfara State tops the list of exam malpractice with 47.89%, closely followed by Abia State with 41.71%.
Stakeholders in the educational sector attended a meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Capital recently at the instance of the National Consultative Committee on Education (NCCE). At the meeting, the then Minister for Education, Prof. Fabian Osuji (who was later dismissed by President Olusegun Obasanjo for his alleged involvement in a bribe scandal that equally claimed the office of the then Nigerian Senate President, Adolphus Wabara) stated that, henceforth, schools involved in examination malpractice of any magnitude would be derecognized and barred from enrolling candidates for any public examination for three years. Good talk backed with consequent levity!
The Federal Government has given many such directives in the past without any effect, probably because of lack of sincerity of purpose. They simply blow hot and cold even as defaulting schools get more recognition as magic centers for exam success, smiling all the way to the banks with the money gained from increased enrollment. No one has been sanctioned save for un-cooperating schools (ie those that do not pay the cooperation fee).
How has exam malpractice attained such gargantuan proportions in our society? Certificates issued by exam bodies like NECO, WAEC, JAMB etc lack credibility. It is incontrovertible that exam malpractice thrives in a corrupt society, which indicates that it is a reflection of the society. The problem lies in the people’s psyche, therefore it can only be tackled in their minds. The question is, are the people ready to tackle this sweet poison?
To fight effectively in this war against exam malpractice, all the agents of socialization must participate actively in stemming the ugly scenario. The homefront (parents) must deliberately discourage their children and wards from further participation in the act by refraining from financing their exam malpractice. Instead, they should encourage the children and wards to study harder, give them quality education and make them earn their qualifications so that they can be a source of pride.
|
Tags
You must be logged in to add tags.
|
Writer Profile
Saintmoses Eromosele
The author is a Nigerian writer, editorial consultant and community organizer born in Benin City.
|
Comments
hi eghere udumetotor | May 17th, 2008
i love ur publication u are xtremely fatastic
This article is timely Iyere Valentine Era-Imuse | Jul 1st, 2008
Thank you Saintmoses for this piece of brilliant expositor on the menace of examination malpractice in Nigeria. Education in nigeria has suffered so much neglect and the government have played down on the value of education in nation building hence they allowed the menace of examination malpractice to blossom by their wilful acquiscence. Kep writing. Perhaps someday there would be a redeemer for education in Nigeria - the great country with little minds ruling.
R Kahendi | Jul 2nd, 2008
Your writing talent is amazing, Eromosele. One thing though: sounds to me like exam malpractice is institutionalized in the set up you describe. It's a sad trend, and one that, as you can imagine, is happening elsewhere in the continent and in the world. I think the problem lies in the focus on standardized tests. Standardized tests should not displace continuous assessment exercises in priority, but they seem to have done just that.
to ask a question Onyeka Ezike | Aug 11th, 2008
i need you to help me on this issue of investigation of special centres among secondary school student on the quality of education in nigeria,and also the problem and prospect.
Nice work Bazino | Mar 19th, 2010
i have read through your write up, i think i have no option than to agree with you completely. it is a true reflection of the Nigerian situation and the suggestions you gave will help to check the menance
msg Azeez Fatai Aderemi | May 28th, 2010
Is a very good write-up. Good job
ibinabo | Nov 5th, 2010
this is quite lively but how do you protect ur work?
You must be a TakingITGlobal member to post a comment. Sign up for free or login.
|
|
