Secondary Schools Student’s Perception of Examination Malpractices and Examination Ethics

Abstract

Secondary school students' perceptions of examination malpractices and examination ethics were assessed. The participants were drawn from Secondary Schools in the Benin Metropolis of Nigeria. The study revealed that majority of the students believed that their indulgence in examination malpractice was a common occurrence, which will be difficult to eradicate. Parents, teachers and school principals were found to encourage cheating in examinations. The study also revealed that majority of the students had a very wrong notion about examination ethics; believing that examination ethics entail among others sitting next to someone in order to copy from his/her paper in the examination hall. In all, counselling intervention strategies such as, school counsellors partnering with the school authorities and students to set up examination ethics clubs that will teach the virtues of hardwork; school counsellors partnering with parents/ teachers association and other significant others on strategies that would help to inculcate in them the virtues of responsibility were advocated.