Before we begin, let's look at an overview of what exam malpractice is all about.

Examination is defined as a set of questions or exercises intended to evaluate skills or knowledge.
While malpractice refer to the improper or unethical conducts by a professional or official

Therefore exam malpractice can be defined as unethical or improper conduct in an examination to gain accreditation for skills or knowledge that one is not qualified for.

Education is the bedrock of any society's advancement as it is the form through which knowledge and skills are passed down from one generation to the next for that generation's improvement and utilization.

Since education plays a prominent role in societies advancement, and examinations is the only education evaluation method available then examination malpractice is a major problem.

Lets imagine a scenario where a certain kingdom's mainstay is agriculture and due to the nature of their geographical location, irrigation plays an important role in their agricultural system and the skills for the operation and maintainance of the irrigation system is passed on from one generation to the next.

Assuming that a certain generation have a lot in common with certain students today and didn't effectively learn the operations of the irrigation system and through various malpractice schemes and in some cases in connivance with some of their teachers happen to pass the qualification exams and become irrigation 'experts'. When the next planting season arrives and these new experts are handed over the system, due to their non qualification, they will either waterlog crops or starve them leading to crop failure leading to a poor harvest leading to famine and then civil unrest then anarchy takes place and finally the kingdom is not destroyed by an outside force, but by an inside force.

This scenario may seem far fetched in today's society but we should understand that our irrigation experts today are studying to be doctors, lawyers, teachers, scientists, leaders and parents. And they are all involved.
Now imagine a generation of 'qualified' professionals who are only qualified on the basis of their proficiency in malpractice.

Imagine going into an operating room only to discover that the 'doctor in charge' can't differentiate one organ from another ... Seems far fetched? Not really, not if we continue like this.

Imagine when this generation of cheats become leaders!

Imagine when this generation of sorters and corner cutters become parents!

Nigerians are not academically lazy (neither are they physically lazy for the record). We are just used to a society that celebrates short cuts to our undoing.

In the US, Nigerians are the most educated immigrant community, ranking higher than Asians, Hispanics and other African Countries.

60% of documented Nigerians living in the US have a college degree.

Nigerians in Ivy League schools in Europe and the US routinely outperform others.

A Nigerian family the Imafidon has been officially named the smartest family in the UK.

We all know of Philip Emeagwali and his supercomputer.

On the 7th of May 2016, history was made at the Howard University in Washington DC as 43 of the 96 graduating Doctor of Pharmacy students were Nigerians, receiving a total of 16 out 27 awards presented that day.

So what's the difference between the above and the current case to be obtained in Nigeria.

The Bible posed a question 'if the foundation is destroyed, what shall the righteous do?'

Well in Nigeria, the righteous joins the crowd! This is very pathetic!

The only difference between the hundreds of Nigerian Youths abroad making history and the millions in Nigeria making 'history' is the country's attitude to education.

Contributions to the state of education that has encouraged the breeding of the hydra headed monster called exam malpractice comes from every angle as most of us are all accomplices, either aiding or abetting or doing the both.

From underpaid teachers and lecturers, to under qualified and unqualified teachers and lecturers,
to parents paying for their wards to patronize miracle centers, to students themselves going into examinations with foreign materials and electronic devices for he purpose of malpractice, including examiners and invigilators turning a blind eye because they have been bribed, even the Vice Chancellor's list and its ranking and celebration of mediocrity above excellence for those who know someone who knew someone.

What of the lecturers who accept sorting from students and force them to buy books they 'published'? To other lecturers who receive sexual gratification to 'pass' students

Virtually everyone here included is guilty and none may be qualified to cast a stone.

But shall we continue with finger pointing, on this route of blames and casting aspersions?

No!

So whats the way forward?

We need help. As simple as that.

A country with miseducated youths is bound to fail.

1. The Federal government in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and State governments should declare a state of emergency in our education system.

2. The system should be raked with a fine toothed comb from the minister of education down to least education staff on the government payroll.

3. Strict panels should be set up to investigate cases of malpractice and misconducts involving both students and or lecturers.

4. We should start an awareness mission right from the Primary (Basic) level of education up to our higher institutions, educating and creating awareness on the dangers of malpractice and benefits associated with self reliance and discipline.
5. Strict monitoring and invigilation of entrance examinations at all levels

And maybe one day we will get it right.

If we must build a new Nigeria that can rely on herself, we must start now and start strong.

Remember a generation that is misinformed is deformed and cannot perform.

Lets join hands to build a New Nigeria where their is zero tolerance to examination practice and restore back the glory of our lost educational values!

Join the New Nigeria Vanguard Team.

#tomorrow's leaders today.