4. Improved Funding of the Education Sector: The education sector in Nigeria is grossly underfunded. The inadequate funding of the public school system is the cause of other problems that have undermined quality in the sector. Nigeria’s funding efforts of education is low, and its budgetary priority for the education sector is even lower. In 2003, out of a national budget of 765.1 billion naira, only 13.9 billion was allocated to education, representing 1.83% (Post Express, 2003) as against UNESCO’s 26% recommendation. Studies have shown that space facilities and equipment are in short supply at all levels of education (NAE, 2004; Omoifo et al, 2002 and Okobia, 2006).
The Nigerian Academy of Education Report (2004) showed that teacher commitment was severely affected by their level of job satisfaction. Teachers were most dissatisfied by their work load, school facilities and service professional development and reward system. In the same vein, graduates and other professionals from tertiary institutions reported poor study conditions in their institutions (Omoifo et al cited in Badmus, 2006). One of the consequences of this is involvement in academic fraud to cover the deficiency of underfunding. With space facilities in short supply, examination halls will always be overcrowded. An improvement on the current funding efforts will provide conducive teaching and learning environment devoid of academic fraud and other sharp practices associated with the assessment process in the school system.
5. Campaigns and Seminars on the Dangers of Examination Malpractice: To be able to curb examination malpractices, there should be continuous grassroot campaigns and seminars organized by all stakeholders in the education sector on the dangers associated with examination malpractices. This will help to sensitize and conscientize the people. These campaigns will help the people to internalize the true values of life, and over time shed the vices associated with their existence. As the attitudes of the people change, external misbehavior will also be positively affected. The Examination Ethics Project (a non-governmental organization) will make large scale and far reaching impact in this regard. In addition, these seminars and campaigns will help restore the lost cherished moral values of honesty, hard work, dedication and uprightness that hitherto characterized the Nigerian society.
6. Special Welfare Package for Examination Officials: In addition to the above measure, a special welfare package should be put in place for examination officials to discourage them from financial and materials inducements from students, parents and others who may want to subvert examination process. These examination officials include teachers who investigate examination, supervisors who oversee the conduct of examinations in schools, officers of examination bodies who monitor the conduct of examinations and law enforcement agents who are in charge of security in examination centres.
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