Correlates of Examination Malpractice in Secondary Schools in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate correlates and factors of examination malpractice in secondary schools in Cross River State, Nigeria. One thousand two hundred (1200) students were randomly sampled for the study, using ex-post facto research design with standard questionnaires for data collection. Our hypotheses were there is no significant influence of: 1) location of school on students’ involvement in examination malpractice and 2) level of examination supervision on examination malpractice. The results showed that school location and level of examination supervision do significantly influence examination malpractice in the secondary schools. Schools located in the hinterland were more likely to engage in malpractice because accessibility is very difficult and government offici als and other examination syndicates could hardly monitor examinations. Loose supervision enabled students to adopt different methods of carrying extraneous materials into examination halls without the knowledge of those supervising. Modalities and suggestions for curbing examination malpractices in public and private examinations and schools were suggested.