Causes of Examination Malpractice in Biology in Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination: a Case Study of Oshimili South L.g.a of Delta State
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the Study
The main objective of this research study is to find out the various forms of examination malpractice among secondary school students and also to identify the causes with a view to proffering solution for it to be curbed.
CHAPTER TWO
Literature Review
This chapter focus on the review of some relevant literature under the following subheading
- Student connivance with teachers.
- Lack of instructional materials.
- Lack of qualified biology teachers
- Inappropriate preparation for examination by students.
- Inappropriate time allocation for various subjects.
Student Connivance with Teachers
There is no gainsaying the fact that examination malpractice is a major cause of poor academic performance of students in schools.
Olodunjoye (2010) opined that teacher and principals connive with students to perpetuate this evil.
Olodunjoye (2010), maintained that anybody caught be it a principal, teacher or student “should be allowed to taste the fury of the law as a deterrent to other who are already into the act or are nursing the idea of venturing into such ugly act.
Similarly Akah (2011) maintained that the rate at which examination malpractice is growing calls for urgent attention and further stated that it was not only disgraceful but also disheartening to hear that some school official (principals and teachers) as well as their examination officials counterpart deliberately agree with student to cheat in examination.
In most cases schools lobby examination official for them to allow students copy from each otherwise go in with various textbooks and notebooks later the examination hall, as well as bring in subject “specialist” commonly called “Machineries” to assist the students. There is ardent need to seriously warm and checkmate school officials at various levels in order to avert this ugly incidence (Okah 2011).
CHAPTER THREE
Research Methodology
In this chapter, the research methodology is discussed under the following sub-heading
- Research Design.
- Area of Study.
- Population of the Study.
- Sample and sampling Techniques.
- Research Instrument.
- Method of Data Collection.
- Method of Data Analysis.
Research Design
The research design used in this study is survey research design. It is an essential component of descriptive research, that streamlines solutions proffered for effectiveness and efficiency when implemented.
CHAPTER FOUR
Presentation and Analysis of Data
Analysis of Research Question
Research question one: Do you have qualified biology teachers?
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
Summary
The result showed that many factors like students connivance with teachers, lack of instructional materials, lack of qualified biology teachers, and inappropriate preparation for examination by students, inappropriate time allocation for various subjects are some of the factors leading to examination malpractice by students.
When unqualified teachers with little or no knowledge on the subject area handle the course it negatively affects the performance of students. To solve this problem, qualified and knowledgeable teachers should be recruited and employed to handle the course to improve student’s performance.
Instructional materials are not adequately supplied and the concept are taught to be the students in abstract form and more knowledge are not retained since the students are viewing and observing biological concepts without the related practical thereby affecting there performance negatively.
Because biology is not a theoretical subject but also practically oriented, lack of instructional materials hampers easy assimilation of the taught concept.
Laziness on the part of students have also contributed immensely to their involvement in examination malpractice, as they want to pass their examinations and impress their parents who sent them to school, without going through adequate preparation to ensure the needed success in the examination.
Inadequate time allocation was also identified as a key factor why students indulge in examination malpractice as there is no enough time for teachers to cover the needed concepts to be covered in any given topic in the scheme of work.
Conclusion
If the aim of the school is to gets excellent performance of the students offering biology in their various institutions. There is an urgent need to recruit well trained, qualified, efficient competent and dedicated biology teachers, to enhance students performance in the subject.
It is also imperative that concerned authorities should provide adequate instructional materials as biology is a
practical oriented subject. There should also be proper time allocation for the teaching of both the theory and practical aspects of the subject.
Recommendations
The following recommendation will help to enhance students’ performance:
- Employment of qualified and competent biology teachers should be provided.
- Adequate provision of instructional materials to aid in carrying out the needed practical.
- Proper allocation of time of the subject to help in covering both the theoretical and practical aspect.
- Students should be reinforced to motivate them in working hard to pass their examination.
- Students should be allowed to make further discovery and ask questions where they do not understand.
References
- Akah, M.N (2011). Causes of examination malpractice. Kenya: Africana publishers.
- Eja, A.A (2010). Delimitation to biology education. London: Longman publishers.
- Joseph, M.A (2010). Biological Inventions. Lagos: University of Lagos press.
- Kunle, A.S (2011). Specialists view on the biology Subject. London: Oxford university press.
- Combs, H.A. (2012). Inadequate instructional Materials. London, Victoria printing press London.
- Ojua, B.S (2011) . The teaching process- ibandan; University of Ibandan, press.
- Oladunfoye , A.S (2010). Teachers shortcomings Lagos : university of Lagos, press
- Okah ,A.O (2011) . Malpractice Causes. Benin: B.I.U press Benin – City.
