!

Bindowo Mohammed Garba

Federal university Wukari

P.M.B 1020 Kasitna Road Wukari

Taraba State, Nigeria

E-mail bindowogarba@fuwukari.edu.ng

Phone number 08133700090

Social implications of Testing in Nigeria

Abstract

The paper investigated the social implications of testing in Nigeria. Testing Situations and test results
have often been criticized for certain unacceptable outcome following mismanagement of testing
situations and test results. Any action that undermines test poses a great threat to the validity and
reliability of test results. The study identified some causes of mismanagement of test which includes
poor supervision of test; over emphasis on test result for classification; using students to mark
students scripts; undue emphasis on certificate and others. The paper recommended that since
mismanagement of testing situation and test result is a social problem that caused unimaginable
havoc to the entire fabric of society, therefore it requires multidimensional approach to its
resolution, any effort aimed at resolving this problem must be collaborative that is involving all
stakeholders in the education. The government, the citizens, the teachers, the students, the family
and the schools, employers and employees should discourage any form of mismanagement of
testing situations and test results in its entirety.
1.0 Introduction

Testing has been fully accepted in modern society as the objective method of decision making. It is
used for admission, recruitment, promotion ,evaluation, guidance, research and teaching purposes.
Test and testing have been criticized for unsavoury outcomes following the mismanagement of
either testing situation and test results or even interpretation of test results. The implication of
mismanagement of testing situations and test results on the society will leads to a situation
described by Nwankwo (2012) “ that this generation of Nigerian graduates will end up producing
doctors who will forget scissors and towel in the stomach after surgical operataion as long as
malpractices are prevailing. The generation will continue to produce students with Alphas
(distinctions ) in Waec results, first class honours in the Universities without a knowledge in any
definite course or subject: this generation will end up producing teachers who are unable to spelt
their names of their schools correctly. This generation will end up producing lawyers who cannot
differentiate between an accused person and the complainant.

A country that become noted for poor handling of testing situation and test result (examination
malpractices) at the earlier stage has escalated to high scale of malpractices and corruption that
pervades the strata of Nigerian society. Examination malpractice as a result of poor handling of
testing situation and test results lead to irreversible loss of credibility.

A country that becomes noted for examination malpractices losses international credibility,
acceptability and honour. Certificate is becoming worthless in Nigeria because of the social malaise
that has become inimical to educational development in Nigeria. From foregoing, this paper
identifies causes, effects and possible solutions of mismanagement of testing situations and test
results on the society.

Table1

Examination malpractice in Nigeria in 2012 ( Waec )

zone Number of schools involved %

North-Central 54 16.6

North-East 08 2.5

North -West 12 3.6

South-South 116 36.0

South-West 86 26.5

Total 324 100.0

Source (Weekend Times,17 & 18 February 2012)

 Examination malpractice occurs in all geo political zones in the country. The south- South zone has
116 schools, followed by south west zone with 86 schools. The north east zone has 8 schools which
is the least in six zones.

The phenomenon of examination malpractice seems to be aggravated by the scale and shameful
involvement of dishonest and greedy teachers, schools principals parents and all those who take in
the examination administration(Ijaiya,2007). The prominence assume by this malady in the schools
system has become a source of concern in the stake holder in education industry. Every examination
season witness new and ingenious method of cheating The examination process has become
endangered to the extend that certificate has almost lost its credibility in the country. Certificates
no longer seem to reflect skill and competence. Accusssing fingers have been pointed at teachers,
schools principals, patents, students, examination officers and even security agents as those
responsible for examination malpractice in the school system.

According to Emaikwu (2012) examination ad part of evaluation in education is aim at determining a

learner’s level of skill acquisition or intellectual competence and understanding after a given
training. But when examination is not properly conducted, the expected feedback may not be
accurate result. Consequently, the result of such evaluation leads to wrong decision and judgement
which affect teachers ,the learner, the entire education sector as well as the society. The author has
emphasized that the value of the society will be seriously affected negatively if the examination is
not properly conducted but he failed to talk about the test result I.e manipulation of test results
during scoring, marking, interpretation of the test or post interpretation of test results. Parents and
guardians are ready to give encouragement and pay high cost because they desperately want their
children and ward to acquire certificates. They normally bribe the teachers and examination
authorities before or after examination.

Waliyat (2009) on the other hand describes examination malpractice as the illegal act committed by
a student single -headedly or in collaboration with supervisors, invigilators printers and anybody or
group of people before, during or after examination to obtain undeserved grades. The above
author,s definition of examination malpractice is comprehensive because the author has made
mention both two dimensions of mismanagement of test results and test situations. Examination
malpractice take place before during or after the conduct of the examination. According to Nwadiani
(2005) examination still remain the best tool for an objective assessment and evaluating of what
learners have achieved after a period of schooling. Hence any action that undermines examination
poses a great threat to the validity and reliability of examination result certificates. This paper had
agreed with this explanation because if examination is not mismanaged it will assist teachers to
draw a reliable inference about the cognitive abilities of the learners. But if the test result and
testing condition is mismanaged then the examination result is invalid and is not reliable.

Causes of Mismanagement of Testing Situations Test Result (Examination malpractice in Nigeria)

Mismanagement of testing situation refers to any illegal act committed by a learner single -headedly
or in collaboration with others like fellow students, parents, teachers, supervisors, invigilators,
printers and anybody or group of people before, during or immediately after the examination in
order to obtain underserved Mark’s or grades.
 The following are the main causes of mismanagement of testing situations in Nigeria according to
(Anikweze, 2012).

1. Malpractice as a result of poor supervision of test.

2. Poor timing of test
3. Use of test as punishment
4. Wrong choice of subject or career
5. Over-emphasis on result of test through rank ordering
6. Insufficient teaching and learning materials
7. Starting the examination before schedule
8. Exceeding the schedule time for the examination
9. Use of mobile phone
10. Laziness and lack of interest in academic work by the learner
11. Peer group influence
12. Incessant staff strike
13. Undue emphasis on certificate
14. Quest for material wealth
15. Personality connection
16. Moral decadence in the society

Mismanagement of Test Results

Mismanagement of Test result is any illegal act committed by the teacher or examination bodies
during marking, scoring, interpretation of script or publicizing the test result. The following are some
causes of the mismanagement of test results

1. Using student to mark students script

2. Sexual harassment
3. Poor handling of test results
4. Subjectivity and bias of the teacher
5. Using test result for classification
6. Misinterpretation of test result
7. Cultural bias

Examination malpractice among students in secondary schools, tertiary institutions and promotion
examinations for workers takes various forms as foll9

I. Receiving the questions paper in part or whole before the day and time of the examination.
II. Taking relevant documents, papers and textbooks into examination hall and using such to
supply candidates with answers.
III. Writing inscriptions on the palms, thighs or any part of the body or desk with the hope that
such inscriptions will turn out to be the answers to the examination questions
IV. Impersonating other students by writing the examination for them
V. Deliberate distracting the examiners for the purpose of cheating
VI. Disturbing other candidates by smiling, shifting feet and whispering by the student
VII. Use of mobile phone
All these various forms of examination malpractice take place as a result of poor supervision of the
examination by the invigilator. Poor supervision and invigilation of the examination gives room for
candidates to indulge in various forms of cheating as listed above.

Undue Emphasis on Examination and Over-Value of Certificates

The over value of Certificate could be traced to the colonial past when colonial masters issued
certificates as testimonial to the natives who had undergone some form of instruction in
administration. Such administrative certificate instantly catapulted the holders from life ordinary
and transformed them into local economic and social superior. Certificate or similar credentials
becomes instant means of considerable for future political power. Ever since the value system has
placed emphasis on certificates because of their assumed transformational power(Jimoh,Basil
&Olatunbosun, 2009).

The inherited notion has dominated and suffused the Nigerian school system so that the products of
the system preferred flaunt certificates and credentials rather than knowledge, skills and
competence. In same vein, parents and students engages in short cut means of acquiring certificate.

Poor Handling of Test Result

Poor handling of test results have often led to ugly consequences. For instance, a
learner that constantly occupies the bottom position in test may be labelled a never -do
well particularly if the teacher uses poor performance to abuse or slight unfortunate
child one of the following implication is possible and actually taken place in history
A. The learner becomes mischievous and attempts to cause other learners to
equally taste failure , for instance by implicating them in malpractice or docking
away of their textbooks or notebooks when test are proposed.
B. The learner develops hatred for the teacher, school work and life itself and may
commit suicide.

Use of Test as Punishment

Some teachers use test to punish students or to control noise makers in the classroom. It borders on
gross mismanagement of test situation when teachers announces a test as a punishment event for
learners. According to Anikweze (2012), says on no account should teachers adopt threat of a test
as a strategy for eliciting quiteness from a noisy class.

Using Test Result For Classification

Another problem with testing is the misuse and abuse of test result. The frequent misuse and abuse
of test has led many to condemn the whole idea of testing one of such decisions which is made
based on information provided by the test. Very often such decisions are inappropriate. One such
decision is the use of result for classification rather than for assisting individual student. According to
Emaikwu (2014) classification sometimes carries with negative connection. As poor achievers,
truant, mentally retarded such classifications are not socially or ethically such affected person.
Moreover there are bound to be some classification errors.

Misinterpretation of Test Result

There is the possibility of misinterpretation of test result by unqualified users. The unqualified test
users are more likely to talk carelessly about individual test result thereby violating individual
privacy. Besides the problem of invasion of privacy Hoffman(2011) noted that there is a very danger
of its potential of misinterpretation and abuse of the control of educational destinies of an
individual.

Consequences of Mismanagement of Testing Situations and Test Result

1. Mismanagement of test renders the goals of education invalid. The country will end up
producing graduates who lack knowledge, skills and competencies to exploit the resources
of the nation. Besides, the graduates will lack right type of values and attitude needed for
survival in a globalised economy.
2. Examination malpractice is a social evil that can damage society to the extent of possibly
leading to a fail state, it has a very serious economic, political and social consequences.
3. Malpractice leads to irreversible loss of credibility. A country noted for examination
malpractice losses international credibility. The implication is that documents emanating
from such country's educational institutions are disbelieve such educational institutions are
as good as dead as far as international cooperation in education is concerned.
4. The fight against corruption cannot succeed if examination malpractice continues to be
endemic in Nigerian educational system. As leaders of tomorrow who have gone through a
school systems characterized by academic fraud and dishonesty, the youths of the country
will sow and nurture the fraudulent behaviour destined to a life of crime, fraud and corrupt
practices (Aminu,2006).
5. Over testing leads to test anxiety. According to Lyness as cited by Anikweze (2012) test
anxiety – feeling someone might have in a situation where performance counts and there is
pressure to do well. Test anxiety affects the body and the mind and interfere with their
concentration and prevent them from doing their best on a test.
6. Violation of confidentiality of examiners. The permanent confidentiality of test results are
not always or easily maintained as other people may gain access to such information in a
short run. This may leads to stigmatization of poor performance. Learner becomes
mischievous and the learner develop hatred for the teacher, school work and life itself and
may committ suicide.

Solutions Towards Social Implication of Testing in Nigeria

The following steps might help in managing the problems arising from mismanagement of testing
situation and test result

1. Any staff of examination bodies should be well paid so that they will not be entice with
money by students, parents and others to temper with the administration of testing
situation or test result
2. Examination papers should be within the reach of security agents
3. Posting of supervisors should be change on daily or weekly basis
4. Sitting of the students should be done according to their registration numbers
5. Efforts should be made to inspect the examination centres at least once daily
6. Parents and communities should train-up their children to imbibe the traditional values of
honesty hard work, fairness uprightness at home and be complemented by schools
7. Governments should provide conducive learning environment
8. Enough resources should be made available for the conduct of examination
9. Techniques for identifying specific causes of malpractices in various schools and how to
eliminate them should be made known to school personnel.
10. Less emphasis on certificates and paper qualifications instead more emphasis should be
placed on the competency and skills acquisition.
11. Campaign and seminars on dangers of mismanagement of testing situations and test results
should be organised by schools and stakeholders in education industry.
12. Teachers should exercise tact in publication of test results confidentiality should be applied
in such a way that each learner compete against self.
Conclusion

This paper examined the social implications of testing in Nigeria, the causes of mismanagement
of testing situations and test results, the consequences of mismanagement of testing and test
results on the society. The paper also provide some possible solutions towards social
implications of testing in Nigeria.
Recommendations

1. It is a problem that requires a multidimensional approach to its resolution.

2. Any effort aimed at resolving this problem must be collaborative involving all
stakeholders.
3. Examination malpractices must be discourage in its entirety.
4. Campaign and seminars on dangers of social implications of testing should be organized
for the teachers by the schools and government .
5. Test should constructed according to the type of test its difficulty level and the demand
of testees.
Reference

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Dangers and Assailance. Keynote Address Achieve in two days summits on examination malpractice
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Yaradua Centre,Abuja,August 2006.

Oredein A.O(2015). Checking Examination Malpractice in Nigerian Schools. A paper Presented at

Institute of Education Ago Iwoye Nigeria

Anikweze C.M (2012). Measurement and Evaluation for Teacher Education, third edition, Ibadan:
Constellation NIG Publishers

Emaikwu, S.O (2012). Issues in Test Item Bias in Public Examination in Nigeria and Implication For
Testing. International journal of Academic Research and Progressive Education and Development
(1)85-107

Jimoh Basil (2009). Examination Malpractice in Secondary Schools in Nigeria what sustained it?
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Nwadiani. M. (2005).Examination Malpractice in Nigeria Educational System. A paper Presented at

the first Annual Conference Faculty of Education Ambrose Ali University

Waliyat. M. (2009). Causes of Examination Malpractice and Unfair Means. The Journal of Education
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