Abstract:
The study investigated the current trends of examination malpractices among
senior high schools in New Juaben Municipal Assembly in the Eastern Region
of Ghana, the persons involved, and the reasons that account for their
involvement and ascertain effective strategies for curbing the menace. A
descriptive survey design was used. The population of the study consisted of all
senior high school teachers and students in New Juaben Municipal. Simple
random sampling was used to select teachers and students for the study. A
structured questionnaire was employed for data collection. The overall
reliability statistic for the students’ questionnaire. The teachers’ questionnaire
yielded a reliability coefficient. Data collected were analysed using descriptive
and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that (i) obtaining questions
through social media before examination is the most practiced forms of
examination malpractices. Further, the results show that students, invigilators
and teachers are considered as the individuals that are mostly involved in
examination malpractices. Besides, (i) poor students’ attitudes towards
learning, (ii) inadequate school facilities and (iii) poor teaching are the three
topmost reasons that drive many persons to indulge in examination malpractice.
The findings further revealed that effective teaching is the best strategy for
combating examination malpractices. Also, provision of adequate facilities for
teaching and learning, instant punishment to anyone who engages in
examination malpractices, encouraging series of tests before final exams and
rewarding honesty and excellence are the next best strategies for combating
examination malpractices. Further analyses showed that gender and school type
have no influence on students’ choices about the best strategies for curbing
examination malpractices.
