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2.6 School Type, and Location and Academic Achievement

2.8.1.4 Forms of Examination Malpractice

Asuru (2005) summarizes what constitutes examination malpractices as provided by decree no 33 of 1999 into:

1. Stealing of question papers, answer sheets or scripts of any other candidate.

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2. Impersonation i.e. where an individual who is not a candidate writes an examination for a registered candidate.

3. Alteration of and tampering with a document issued to a candidate in relation to an examination.

4. Disorderliness in an examination. This includes leaving an examination hall or mixing with any other person with an intent to cheat.

5. Unlawful communication or attempt to communicate in the examination hall.

6. Loitering in an examination area. This involves a person who is not registered for an examination but comes into an examination centre with intention to aid a candidate in anyway.

7. Possession of and/or use of offensive weapons or any other materials at or near an examination hall;

8. Misconduct in an examination hall.

9. Failure to obey the lawful orders of a supervisor, invigilator or agent of an examination body;

10. Wilfully obstructing a supervisor, an invigilator or agent the examination body concerned.

11. Forging, altering and tampering with result ships. This includes certificate forgery, alteration of scores, grades etc. on a result of slip or certificate.

12. Breach of duty by a person who is for the time being under a duty to discharge any function with respect to the conduct of an examination.

13. Alteration of or tampering with scores by examiners or any other person. This included acts pertaining to aiding and abetting a candidate to cheat at an examination.

14. Disclosure of contents or information pertaining to a question paper by a person employed to print or charged with the responsibility of printing.

15. Conspiracy, aiding, abetting or counselling any other person to commit an offence.

This mostly applies to parents, guardians, teachers, and communities etc. who

“encourage” their children, wards, and students to indulge in malpractice.

16. Attempt to commit or is an accessory to an act which constitutes an offence. It is noteworthy that an attempt to commit the act is itself an offence.

17. A person who incites, procures or induces any other person by any means whatsoever

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to commit an offence under this Act (has committed an offence).

Table 2.2: Other forms of examination malpractice, their description and personnel involved.

Examination Description Involves

Development Leakage

The content of the examination or any part of the examination is disclosed prior to taking the examination

Usually it involves one or more of the following: staff members of examination authorities, printers, proof readers and messengers, personnel employed to develop the papers (setters) or to determine its suitability (moderators) and school administrators.

Preparation

Test preparation Can be malpractice if the students have access to the items or questions before taking the paper. Conventional test preparation including practice on parallel type papers or on copies of old paper does not normally qualify as malpractice.

Normally involves staff members of examination authorities, proof readers and messengers, personnel employed to develop the papers (setters) or to determine its suitability (moderators) and school administrators.

Administration

Impersonation An individual who is not registered as a candidate takes the place of one that is registered.

Usually it involves collusion between school principals and the examination supervisor. Frequently involves university students or teachers taking the test for monetary reward or as a favour for a girlfriend or boyfriend. Sometimes young employees are coerced to take the examination.

External assistance Individuals who are not Usually involves

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examination candidates giving unauthorized assistance to candidates.

invigilators (exam room supervisors) dictating answers, writing answers on the blackboard, circulating sheets of worked out answers during the course of the exam or acting as couriers of material into the examination centre. In some instances, external helpers have used pagers, phones, or broadcast answers.

Smuggling of foreign materials

This is perhaps the most common form of malpractice.

It relates to the introduction of unauthorized material (e.g.

notebooks, “crib notes”, charts and answer booklets complete with answers) into the examination hall. Material is frequently smuggled in pants, shoes, hems and bras or information is written on part of the body.

Usually only candidates are involved.

Copying Reproduction of another

candidates work with or without permission.

Usually involves only the candidate but can be facilitated by inadequate spacing between desks and lax supervision.

Collusion Unauthorized passing of

information between candidates usually by exchanging notes or scripts.

Usually involves only the candidate but can be facilitated by inadequate spacing between desks and lax supervision.

Intimidation Examination officials

including supervisors and markers of papers are physically threatened.

Usually involves people seeking support for individual candidates.

Candidates have also placed weapons in clear view of

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supervisors to intimidate them.

Substitution of scripts Replacing answer sheets handed out during the course of the exam with ones written outside the centre before, during or after the exam.

Usually involves

examination body officials, invigilators and sometimes teachers working outside the examination room.

Improper assignment Deliberate placing of candidates in centres under the supervision of corrupt officials.

Examination office or local educational officials.

Ghost Centres Fictitious examination centres Established by corrupt examination officials where candidates can complete the exam with the support of helpers and without supervision.

Marking

Marker malpractice

Deliberate alteration of mark designed to inflate or deflate a candidate‟s original mark.

Can be initiated by exam official, by candidates (making contact with the marker) or markers (making contact with the candidate).

Awards and

Certificates

Deliberate enhancement of initial award and/or certificate

In the past usually confined to examination officials, but in more recent years included printers and candidates with high level skills in technology.

Source: The World Bank Group (2002)

www1.worldbank.org/education/exams/malpractice.asp Retrieved on April 8th, 2008.