A sociological investigation of the causes, effects and solutions to the problem of examination malpractice: the opinions of the Crawford University students in Nigeria

With 90 students sampled from Crawford University in Nigeria, this research article investigated the causes, effects and solutions to the problems of examination malpractice in Nigeria. Undue emphasis on certificates, fear of failure in examinations, inadequate preparation for examination, teachers’ related factors and societal factor of corruption were identified as the causes of examination malpractice. Discouragement of the hard working life style, turning out half –baked graduates, denial of innocent students the opportunities to be admitted into tertiary institution, decrease in job efficiency and lowering of the standard of education were the effects cited by the participants. The participants were of the opinions that de-emphasizing paper and certificate qualifications, proper funding of the educational system and helping the students to gain self –confidence would go a long way in putting an end to the menace of examination malpractice in Nigeria. Based on their opinions, it is recommended that government should set up a committee that would see to the emphasis on skills, competence and intellect of the individuals as a way of rating them, rather than on certificates alone. 70% for skills, competence and intellect and 30% for certificates in rating was advocated. Proper funding of the educational system by the government and well- to- do people in the society and proper guidance and counseling of the students were also part of the recommendation made in the efforts to sanitalize the educational system in Nigeria from the problem of examination malpractice, which has eaten deep into the bone marrow of Nigerian educational system.