Socioeconomic Implications of Examination Fraud and Assessment Irregularities in South Africa’s Higher Education Sector: A Futuristic View

Chux Gervase Iwu Chux Gervase Iwu

doi:10.22610/jsds.v10i3(s).2984

Abstract

This paper, based on scholarly as well as documentary evidence, intends to highlight thesocioeconomic implications of fraud and assessment irregularities in South Africa’s higher education. Highereducation institutions serve nation building purposes and as such it is expected that what they produceshould be of high standard in order to further this purpose. Lately, owing to the rise in assessmentmalpractices across South African institutions of higher learning, calls have been made by business andsociety for ways to deal with this. This paper asks a few questions related to what constitutes fraud andassessment irregularities and the sources of these. The paper also points out what these portend for highereducation in South Africa while at the same suggesting some recommendations. This paper contributes to theliterature on the growing concerns of educators and researchers regarding high levels of examinationmalpractice and assessment irregularities within higher education sector globally, but in particular SouthAfrica.

Highlights

Almost every society perceives higher education institutions as exclusive priesthoods comprising wise men and women whose subjects are innocent students
The cases of ‘Drs’ Belamant, Daniel Mtimkulu, Mohau Pheko, Pallo Jordan, Nico Bezuidenhout of South African Airways, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, Ellen Tshabalala (WHO) and many others are striking examples of those who lied about their qualifications to stay on their high profile jobs
The integrity of the qualifications is compromised. This has the capacity to result in a downgrade of higher education institutions in South Africa, but more significantly may even wreck the struggling economy

Summary

Introduction

Almost every society perceives higher education institutions as exclusive priesthoods comprising wise men and women whose subjects are innocent students. The government of South Africa, in its desire to expand access to higher education, reduced the pass mark for the entrance examination to university and colleges This is viewed by many as a ticking time bomb, it has, caused a throng of students marching to universities and colleges seeking admission. The cases of ‘Drs’ Belamant, Daniel Mtimkulu, Mohau Pheko, Pallo Jordan, Nico Bezuidenhout of South African Airways, Hlaudi Motsoeneng (former Chief Operating Officer of the South African Broadcasting Corporation), Ellen Tshabalala (WHO) and many others are striking examples of those who lied about their qualifications to stay on their high profile jobs Perhaps, many of those who scurry for higher education certificates feel they need it by any means necessary especially if these so-called role models could get away with fraudulently stating their credentials. Note taking and engaging the lecturer are often not experienced

Implications of examination fraud and assessment irregularities

What can be done to address these?

Findings

Conclusion