THE TRINITY CHAPEL, MODIBBO ADAMA
UNIVERSITY OT TECHNOLOGY, YOLA
BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE
EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE: THE
CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Text: Jeremiah 17:5-11
Memory Verse: Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice. Proverbs 16:8
INTRODUCTION
In Nigeria and many countries today, examination is a foremost formal instrument used in testing
someone’s knowledge, ability or skills through written, oral or practical
questions or tasks. The results are mainly used for placement, promotion,
admission, certification and recruitment. The high premium placed on the
possession of certificates motivates candidates to get involved in large-scale
examination malpractice, leakages, cheating and forgery of certificates. Examination malpractice as any
unacceptable conduct of placing a candidate at a more advantage over others
done before, during or after examination by the examiner, teacher, testee or
any other party in the examination process. Examination malpractices of all
shades and forms are great tides on campus that all students must safely swim
against to come out clean on the other side. Solicited and unsolicited, it
advertises itself on campus daily. Some parents assist their wards to build its
foundation, some teachers fuel its engine, some classmates drive its boat,
technology is now being used in piloting it and the society fans its flame. The
Christian student must take a Biblical stand early on this matter, believing Proverbs 16:8; Proverbs 15:6 and Proverbs
15:16-17 among many Scriptures. This study is to help you take that
positive Biblical stand.
A war on
examination malpractice is very important because malpractice is the foundation
of the corruption in our society. Once an upcoming student/citizen believes
that what is important is to get to the top irrespective of the means, then
he/she is already sold to corruption. If we win the war early enough and every
citizen abhors examination malpractice, we are then beginning to win the war on
corruption in our society. People will begin to acknowledge that there is
dignity in honest labour and that honesty is the best policy. See what the
Bible says further about being righteous, just and truthful in Isaiah 3:10-11; Prov 4:18,19; and Deut
16:20.
Is collaborative effort in an examination hall a form of brotherly love?
Are the people who insist on giving very honest reports of their study in
examination halls old-fashioned, unloving and wicked? Can’t one just “assists”
to courier an answer to another? The hymn writer asks if our anchor will hold
in the midst of this storm.
A. FORMS
OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICES
1. Identify
different forms of examination malpractices and the parties involved in them.
Does your list include these: S&S: Sorting
and Sleeping, Bullets or Missiles, Super prints, ECOWAS, ECOMOG, Impersonation,
Collusion between candidates, Collusion between candidates and officials,
Assault and Intimidation, Mass cheating, Leakage, Bribery, Expo, Dubbing,
Copying, Hi-tech practice, Giraffing, Magnifying glasses and Binoculars,
Substitution of answer sheet, “Examination Fund” Malpractice, “Comfort Fund”
Malpractice, Spying, Passing of Papers in the Hall, Whispering of Answers,
Submission of multiple scripts, Sale of Blank Answer Sheets, Multiple Entries
for the same Examination, Admission Racketing Malpractice, Coded or Sign
Language Malpractice.
2. Why
are you not involved in any of these types of examination malpractices?
3. What
is the Bible position on any or all types of examination malpractices? I Jn
5:17; Prov 16:8
B. CAUSES
OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICES
1. Identify the remote and
immediate causes of examination malpractices
2. What roles do you think the
following play in examination malpractices: Societal and personal values;
integrity; fear of God; fear of failure; teaching methods; favouritism, intimidation,
questions not commensurate with students’ abilities; examination environment,
overcrowding, miracle centres; peer pressure; unhealthy rivalry among students,
absenteeism, poor attitude to studies, poor invigilation; parent’s success
philosophy; existing punishment; level of preparation; financial inducement;
premium on certificate etc.
3. Is cheating allowed in
Continuous Assessments? What is an Open Book Examination?
4. Does the Bible justify anyone on the grounds of any of these
reasons? 2 Chr 16:9; Rom 2:1
C. REASONS WHY YOU DO NOT NEED TO CHEAT (1
Peter 2:9, Matt 5:14)
1.
God hates it and
you dare not do what God hates. Hebrews 10:31 & 12:29.
2.
Your parents and
family will be highly disappointed in you. Proverbs 22:1, Ecclesiastes 7:1
3.
If truly you entered
the higher institution by merit, you have nothing to fear.
4.
If you passed
O’level examinations where you never saw examiners/markers, you should pass on campus.
5.
You are being
taught and examined by lecturers you will see face to face where you can ask
questions.
6.
If you cheat, your
certificate will not bear any good resemblance with your ability, living in falsehood.
7.
Your conscience
will often remind you that you are a liar if your result is based on a false
result.
8.
You may lose your
studentship or be sent home for some semesters if you are caught.
9.
If you are caught
and sent away or made to lose some semesters, all the fees you have paid will
be lost.
10.
Your name will be
published in your campus website for the whole world to see that you are a
thief.
11.
Your political
ambition may be soiled by such a record which is now online.
12.
As simple as it
may look, you may begin to have difficulty with good friendship.
13.
If you trust God
and work hard, He will reward you with good success.
14.
You are God’s
ambassador and you need not bring shame to Him by cheating.
D. SHIELDING
CULPRITS OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICES
1. What are the diverse
punishments for examination malpractices either by governments or institutions?
2. Should we shield
culprits of examination malpractices from punishment or can we help them
anyhow?
3. What does the Bible say
about shielding culprits of examination malpractices? Prov. 11:21; 16:5
E. COST
OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICES
1. What do
you consider as the social, economic, time and other costs of examination
malpractices to the student involved in the process?
2. What are
the cost implications of examination malpractices to the society? Remember the
half-baked Engineer, NEPA staff, Pilot! Doctor! Nurse! Accountant! Teacher!
etc.
3. Because of
this cost, what should be our individual stand on examination malpractices as
student, parent, teacher, examiner or institutional administrator? Read Prov.
1:8
F. HOW TO AVOID EXAMINATION
MALPRACTICES
1.
Pray towards your
examinations and pray for the specific paper as soon as you are served.
2.
Decide not to
cheat under any condition because God is watching all your actions.
3.
Don’t accept the
suggestion to cheat irrespective of whoever suggests it: parents etc.
4.
Study hard all
through the semester and believe God that He will reward your labour
5.
Obtain, study and
abide with the Regulations Governing Examination Conduct in your campus.
6.
Don’t agree to any
form of impersonation; it is falsehood, lie telling and can land you in jail.
7.
Don’t agree that
assisting someone else in the examination hall is a form of help, instead it is
sin, avoid it.
8.
Sit in the front
rows in the examination hall where possible.
9.
Follow a motto: To
Thine Own Self Be True. Refuse to deceive yourself but follow
integrity.
10.
Let all your classmates
know your stand on examination malpractices before examinations.
11.
Refuse to be a
courier through whom examination malpractices materials pass through.
12.
Accept to suffer
for doing good in case your good work puts you in danger.
13.
Be prepared to
fail honourably rather than obtaining the reward of iniquity.
14.
If any classmate
brings any leaked examination question to you, run from such.
15.
Go to the
examination hall with all your writing materials (with extra pens and pencils).
16.
Search yourself well
before entering the examination hall in case you mistakenly left something on
you.
17.
Cooperate with the
invigilators especially on starting and stoppage timing in the examination
hall.
18.
If someone is
caught around you and you are by law expected to sign as a witness, do not
hesitate to sign.
19.
Always seek the
help of the invigilators in case of any issue to clarify in the examination
hall,
20.
Pray that you do
not enter into temptation. Pray also against “he goats” bringing problems to
the hall.
CONCLUSION
Resolve today never to participate in Examination malpractice. It is an
sin to God Almighty. Remember Jeremiah 17:11 which says, "As a partridge that broods
but does not hatch, So is he who gets riches, but not by right; It will leave
him in the midst of his days, And at his end he will be a fool." If
you do not want to leave midday but you want to fully run your course on
campus, refrain from all forms of examination malpractice. Thy Hymn writers
say, Will your anchor hold? Yield not to temptation for yielding is sin.
Remember, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not
need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
Do
you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not
stand before unknown men (Proverbs 22:29). But without faith it is
impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and
that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). For
our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Enter your comment...good sir good work here more grace
This is simple yet deep and insightful and great! Thank you for sharing, sir.
Thank you Sir God bless you, I used it to educate my classmates am from a mission school which is Saint Paul's Academy Jos.
I am Glad to have things like this online.I am currently in Ss1 and am about to start my exams so I had to educate people in my class not to cheat. If you want to contact me
Call : 08144702619
Sullivanorjiude@gmail.com