By Anthony Uwadiegwu
The National Association of Seadogs, NAS, Frigate Deck, has described examination malpractice as a menace ravaging the educational system of Nigeria which has the capacity to derail the bright future of young people if not curtailed.
The Association further added that if due diligence was followed our certificates would not be doubted anywhere in the world.
NAS through a lecture it organised to enlighten students at the Community Secondary School Ikot Ewa in Akpabuyo at the weekend, tasked students on the need to be diligent and hardworking in a bid to become better and successful people in the society.
Speaking in a lecture titled “Causes and Effects of Examination malpractice amongst Secondary School students”, the Guest lecturer, Dr Emmanuel Ekanem revealed that examination paper leakage occurred first in 1948, adding that the menace was an old act.
Read Also: How Police burst six Ambazionian rebels in C’River
Dr Ekanem explained that students were not the only culprits but teachers, parents, school heads were all part of the nefarious activity.
He listed external help, giraffing, “microchips”, inscriptions, miracle centres, the use of internet for leaked exam papers as forms of examination malpractice, while urging students who are mainly the people involved to desist from it, describing it as an irregular and illicit behavior.
According to him, examination is just a system to help teachers move students to the next level of acquiring knowledge and it produces certificates as evidence.
He said: “You don’t need to be involved in examination malpractice, it is an irregular behavior which contravenes examination rules.
“Which you are involved it reduces your capacity and can cast doubt on your certificates, as many may not be able to defend such, hence the integrity of such grades/certificates becomes questionable.
“Examination malpractice started as far back as 1914, but the Senior Cambridge examination papers first leaked in 1948. Examination malpractice is a form of corruption and in most cases these challenges start from the home due to pressure occasioned by poor parenting.
“Some parents don’t want their children to choose what they want to be, coercing them to study science or arts by force as the case may be thereby putting undue pressure on the child,” he said.
He urged the students to do away with the easy route, face their studies and the result would make them proud in the end.
On his part the Principal of Community Secondary School, Ikot Ewa, Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Mr Inyang Bassey lauded NAS for the lecture, adding that parents must nurture and respect the wishes of their children to study what they have passion for.
According to him, most children are technically inclined and oriented as many of them are not really interested in plenty grammar.
“Many of them want to work with their brains and hands and not in all the theories alone, technical education is key, it will reduce examination malpractice in Schools,” Bassey said.
Also speaking, the Chapter President NAS Frigate Deck, Mr Ubio Oviong, said examination malpractice was a menace that needs to be curbed as it had eaten deep into the fabrics of our educational system.
Oviong added that students must build capacity not just for now but for a broader spectrum to be able to compete in any part of the world.
He further asserted that if exam malpractice can be curbed our certificates would not be doubted anywhere in the world.