POSTERITY AND EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE - THE WAY FORWARD

“Great once was the dignity of Africa, whether one considers natural talents of mind or study of letters, or the very institution for safeguarding religion. For she has given birth to several men of the greatest pre-eminence by whose talents and efforts the whole of human knowledge, no less than divine knowledge had been built.”

“We proclaim Africa…, the mother not only of many good things and the treasure of nature but also of the most successful minds; we proclaim her quite deservedly…, seeing that you have excellently proved the felicity and superiority of your mind… I return to you this which you have by your own effort worked out with refinement of scholarship in order that the power of your intellect may shine forth…” (Culled from “The Problems of Africa” for more information refer to the bibliography page)

The above quotations were written and given by The Rector of the University of Wittenberg in honour and praise of Anthony Williams Amo of Axim in Ghana who was able, by his exceptional academic performances, to earn respect and dignity for the whole of the black race.

This happened a long time ago during a period and in a country when and where Africa children were exchanged as gifts at Christmas and festive occasions; and where and when Africans in general were regarded as “anthropoid” apes. The encomiums and respect earned by a true African, an Nzima from the then Gold Coast, for his scholastic achievements were positive contribution to the enhancement of the dignity of Africans among the white race then.

This also confirms that Africans are made of great academic “giants” who took academic routines seriously, entered into examination halls gallantly with utter confidence, wrote on their own without engaging in any form of examination malpractice and came out excellently with over all best results – Africans are men and women of sound mind; even you have that potential to succeed!

Such was the foundation on which formal education was built in Africa. Education was built on dilligent work and true success; examination successes were achieved through personal inputs and ‘undiluted’ successes were recorded of the participants.
It was such background that produced great minds in Africa that struggled, fought tooth and nail to free Africa from the ‘clutches’ of the colonial masters then. It was also these struggles that led to the birth of independence in most Africa countries.

Educational structures which we are enjoying today in form of primary, secondary and most importantly tertiary institutions are products of the sweat of the great sons of Africa who studiously strived for academic excellence devoid of any form of examination malpractice.

Kudos to great heroes of African civilization, education and enlightenment in persons of Kwame Nkruma of Ghana, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe, Tafawa Balewa, Herbert Macaulay etc. These people and many others went through education the right way and were able to broaden their mind and as a result got exposure that made them stood shoulder to shoulder with the colonial masters, demanded for independence and brought civilization to the entire Africa. They exemplified what it means to be competitive and successful in a complex world.

These people could not have been able to leave such great legacies behind if they had been preoccupied with examination malpractices as it is today. What legacy are you planning to leave for the coming generation?

If care is not taken, qualitative knowledge or education would be found wanting in our schools in no distant future if the present trend is not reversed.

Examination malpractice is eating deeper and deeper into the society’s fabric and yet the phenomenon is being treated with levity. Destinies are at stake here; hence, it should be taken seriously. The lots of generation unborn will be seriously affected if all hands are no deck to checkmate this ‘edu-socio’ stigma. To emphasize the seriousness of cheating in examinations and its implications for professionalism, Rani (2004) professes that: “...considering the fact that if a medical doctor makes a mistake, the patient dies, if an engineer makes a mistake, the bridge collapses, but if a teacher makes a mistake, it affects the unborn generation, showing that while the mistake of the medical doctor and the engineer have immediate repercussions, that of the teacher is eternal (p.2,).

There is need for everyone that loves the progress of Africa and her youths today and those of coming generations to contribute to all measures that will lead to the gradual elimination this menace.

Examination malpractice is an enemy of true success. Examination malpractice stains the joy of true success. It stains life’s foundation and destroy destinies by giving false hope.

Examination malpractice is a spirit. It is an anti-true success spirit. It is a tool in the hand of the devil – one of the tricks that the devil uses to frustrate people. The devil makes you think you are making it while you are cheating in an examination but he is waiting for you at the ‘doors’ of fulfillment and true joy of accomplishment. He closes these doors against his victims

Cheating generally in the world is one of the manifestation of lack of honesty, integrity and faithfulness. The devil has used it to deceive so many to acquire material things (power, wealth etc). He makes you stop at nothing, however odious or hellish, in accomplishing your desired goal. However, such evilly achieved goal or wealth has unknowingly contributed a lot to the frustration, lack of fulfillment or untimely death of many. Think whatever you may, this is a revelation. It is one of the reasons why the whole world is engaged in the ‘rat race’ system.

Put it this way: education is the foundation for information. You need education to have access to the right information that contributes to growth in life. This means that formal education is a basic foundation for modern life. This is because you acquire a certificate that gives you position in life through which food and other necessities of life are provided for. This proves the fact that education is a basic foundation for life and it must be carefully (honestly) built or erected. The holy book even confirms this by saying “ if the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do”

Be wise! Do not join the bandwagon of strugglers. Acquire education the right way. Let your effort be divinely blessed. It is the blessings of the Lord that makes rich without adding any sorrow to it.

Examination malpractice makes a fake of you. It generates a new set of problems for its victims. Examination malpractice fills you with fear of exposure and detection. It haunts you with shame and robs your self confidence and dignity. Examination malpractice lowers the collective self esteem of academic achievement.
There is an undeniable fact about examination malpractice; God hates it. He frowns at it and at whosoever is in the act. Aspire to succeed the right way. Aspiration is a strong desire to achieve something great with due price paid.

Propose in your heart today to contribute to true academic success by following the principle of taking lectures, reading, engaging in group studies and writing examination without engaging in examination malpractice. Be distinctive, be relevant and consistent.

To make a commitment to study, to work hard and pass all your examinations without engaging in examination malpractices means doing what you said you would do despite the obstacles. Remember that obstacles are stepping stones to greatness for true champions.

ADEOLU AMOS ADENLA
ESREF Africa
Nigeria.
08033017862

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