Management Strategies for Curbing Examination Malpractice in Public Secondary Schools in Abuja, Nigeria

The study assesses the management strategies for curbing examination malpractice in public senior secondary schools in Abuja, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population for the study was 183 Principals and Vice Principals including (Academic and Administration) and 7,104 students in 61 public senior secondary schools in Abuja. The sample for the study was 93 Principals including Vice Principals and 364 students in 30 public senior secondary schools in Abuja. Simple random sampling technique was used for selecting 30 schools with the 93 Principals and Vice Principals for the study while the sample of students and teachers were done using Morgan and Kreycie (1971). Three research questions were formulated for the study. Two instruments were used for collecting data. Instrument one titled ‘Management Strategies for Curbing Examination Malpractice Questionnaire (MSCEMQ) was developed for the Principals and Vice Principals both academic and administration, while instrument two titled Types and Causes of Examination Malpractice Questionnaire (TCEMQ) was developed for students. The two instruments were structured on a 4-point rating scale of strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Disagree (D) and Strongly Disagree (SD). The instruments were validated and the reliability of the instruments was ascertained using Pearson Moment Correlation Coefficient which yielded a reliability index of 0.78 and 0.71 respectively. Findings of the study showed that bringing in unauthorized materials into the examinations hall/centers is the most used type of examination malpractice in secondary schools and impersonation was the least used type of examination malpractice among secondary schools students. The study also revealed that lack of strict enforcement of punishment on offenders was the highest rated of the causes of examination malpractice among secondary school students and that orientation of staff and students on the danger of examination malpractice was the most used by principals.

Key words: management strategies, curbing examination malpractices, brain support and corruption in education