CHAPTER ONE Introduction 1.1 Background to the Study Many Nigerian educators and other worried minds, have adopted the patterns and approaches that could solve the problems arising from Nigeria’s social predicaments. There is no doubt, that the reason behind the Nigeria National curriculum conference held in Lagos in 1969 was aimed at addressing national academic problems. The conference, amongst other things called for teaching of social norms and values through Social Studies Education in order to solve problems. Therefore, social studies education focuses on creating awareness and understanding that would transform the learners into citizens with skills, competence, moral values and reasoned judgment to effectively live, interact, interrelate and contribute positively to the social political and economic development of Nigerian society.
The concept of social Studies Education brings hope to social predicaments in Nigeria as a nation. The objective of social studies Education is to inculcate the right type of skills and good virtues, which will make a learner to be a good citizen, with good moral values. Thus, if achieved will create a conducive environment for educational system. No wonder the academic certificates being
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issued to graduates in Nigeria are no more valuable than the pieces of paper on which they are printed, according to the view of most foreigners. What then is examination misconduct? Examination misconduct is a situation in which candidates in an examination are give undue advantages before, during or after the examination so that the candidates win cheap success thereafter. Hence, the sanctity of the examination is broken or violated. Examination misconduct portends grave dangers for the nation. In the first place, our graduates of educational institutions, can not stand the test of time. They are ill-baked because there was no thoroughness in their training and the process of academic acquisition. Also, the negative trend can be seen in employees being engaged in jobs they are not suited for, since the certificates they claim to possess are not merited. In addition, seriousness is thrown to the wind. Students have little time for their studies as they attend parties, engage in drug addiction and other unwanted behaviours. Furthermore, bribery and corrupt practices accompany examination. This is because the cheats offer money and at times their bodies to get illicit assistance in the examination hall. Bribes are offered to invigilators and supervisors so that they may connive with the examination cheats to have a field day in the hall.
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Creativity and resourcefulness are hampered or discourage in a nation where examination misconduct thrives. The cankerworm named examination misconduct should be stamped out of the country before they wreak greater havoc to our social, religious, economic and political lives of Nigeria. God help Nigeria to accomplish just this. Examination misconduct has become a common feature in our contemporary Nigeria school system. There are examination leakages, irregularities and cheating during class test, and also at the end of the term are even at a more alarming rate. The youths or students are leaders of tomorrow, but in the present day Nigeria, it is regrettable that some negative value practices have found their ways into our educational system. The unreliable nature of our examination in recent time is causing serious damage to the quality of products from our highly respected and reputable educational system. Most of our graduate today came out as half baked; un- equipped or better still quacks, all because our examination has lost its credibility. The outcome of this is what we are seeing today in the society, fake drugs, fraud in banks and government offices, collapsed buildings and a failed nation.
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1.2 Statement of the Problem The cases of examination misconduct are embarrassing, all over the world. The statistics records from examining bodies like the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council Organization (NECO) confirmed that more than 1.6 million student’s results are either cancelled or withheld every year. That notwithstanding, close to eight thousands of students are either expelled or restricted out of various institution of higher learning in Nigeria, just because of examination misconduct. (Onyechere 2004). He also added that the major reasons behind cheating is associated with the societal value system and high regard for paper qualifications instead of practical ability . Indeed, many students engage in examination misconduct because of fear of failure, others because of lack of self confidence and the rest want to please their parents and peer group.
The male and female students were not left out. Thus, examination misconduct have become an issue both within Nigeria in general and even among junior secondary students in particular. This alarming situation has really caused a lot of setback in our Nigeria economy, general growth and even social life of the people, in the society. This now requires the intervention of social studies education. This and more have prompted the researcher to go into investigation of student’s
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perception of influence of social studies education in resolving cases of examination misconduct in Junior Secondary Schools in Kaduna State. 1.3 Research Objectives This research is attempted to investigate into the influence of social studies education in resolving cases of examination misconduct in junior secondary school in Kaduna state. This research has the following objectives. I. To determine if differences existed between the perception of male and female students of the influence of social studies education in resolving cases of examination misconduct in Kaduna State. ii. To determine if differences exist between the perceptions of JSS II and JSS III students of the influence of social studies education in resolving examination misconduct. iii. To determine if differences exists between the perception of urban and Rural Students of the influence of social studies education in resolving cases of examination misconduct. 1.4 Research Questions The research questions were as follows:
I. What form or type of examination misconduct engaged by junior secondary school students in Kaduna State?