Abstract:

The Nigerian educational system which has hitherto known peace and quality in the past is today in confussion as a result of many problems confronting the system. The foremost of these problems is examination malpractices. This phenomenon has attained an alarming proportion occupying a central stage among the crisis confronting the system. The problem has defiled all measures so far aimed at curbing it. As a fall out from this, aspersion is being cast upon the quality of the products of the system as well as on the certificates issued at all levels of the system. Nigerian certificates are now being discriminated aganst by foreign universities and colleges and Nigerians were subjected to rigorous academic screening before being admitted into institutions or employed into the labour market both locally and internationally. This paper therefore attempts to examine the present state of Nigerian education in the face of escalating examination malpractices. It looks at the concept, the causes of the problem, the various dimensions and manifestation of examination malpractices, the consequences of the practice as well as the challenges they pose to development of education in the country. The paper further tries to compare Nigerian situation with some other countries in the world especially in the way they have designed their educational programmes thereby preventing instances of examination malpractices. The paper concludes by looking at the implication of this problem on the educational system and suggested ways of dealing with the problem and restoring sanity and quality into the educational system of the nation.