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“Miracle Examination Centres” as hubs for malpractices in Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination in Nigeria: A systematic review

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Listed:
  • Agwu, Prince
  • Orjiakor, Charles T.
  • Odii, Aloysius
  • Onalu, Chinyere
  • Nzeadibe, Chidi
  • Roy, Pallavi
  • Onwujekwe, Obinna
  • Okoye, Uzoma

Abstract

Certificates obtained after taking Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) are priority documents that qualify students to be admitted into tertiary level education and are also a minimum requirement to contest in some political elections in Nigeria. ‘Miracle’ Examination Centres (MECs) are rogue/corrupt business outfits that position as regular schools/examination centres, but in reality deploy deviant means to secure unmerited SSCE results/certificates, and hence undermine academic integrity and country-wide development. In these rogue centres, candidates can acquire unmerited desirable grades across subjects taken in SSCE, hence the ‘miracle’ commonly ascribed to such centres in Nigeria. This paper deploys a systematic review of Nigeria-focused exam malpractice literature to explore the drivers that facilitate the establishment and spread of MECs as well as interventions that can be used to eliminate them. Identified documents that met inclusion criteria (94: 48 non-traditional academic and 46 traditional academic publications) were retrieved and reviewed. Proximate drivers of MECs involve the actions and inactions of certain actors that are within immediate reach of influence and at grassroots, such as parents, community-based groups, and schools (school owners, principals, teachers, students, etc.). Remote drivers are the actions and inactions of the examination bodies and regulatory institutions that allow MECs to thrive. We consider the remote drivers to be away from immediate reach of influence as shown in our conceptual framework. Therefore, addressing the challenge of MECs by focusing on proximate drivers, appears to be feasible within the short and mid-terms, unlike the remote drivers.

Suggested Citation

  • Agwu, Prince & Orjiakor, Charles T. & Odii, Aloysius & Onalu, Chinyere & Nzeadibe, Chidi & Roy, Pallavi & Onwujekwe, Obinna & Okoye, Uzoma, 2022. "“Miracle Examination Centres” as hubs for malpractices in Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination in Nigeria: A systematic review," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:88:y:2022:i:c:s0738059321001917
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102538
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Richard Mallett & Jessica Hagen-Zanker & Rachel Slater & Maren Duvendack, 2012. "The benefits and challenges of using systematic reviews in international development research," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(3), pages 445-455, September.
    2. Tierney, William G. & Sabharwal, Nidhi Sadana, 2017. "Academic corruption: Culture and trust in Indian higher education," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 30-40.
    3. Ille, Sebastian & Peacey, Mike W., 2019. "Forced private tutoring in Egypt: Moving away from a corrupt social norm," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 105-118.
    4. Ayanniyi B. Alhassan & Anya, Chidimma Adamma, 2017. "Forms and Consequences of Examination Malpractices’ in Nigeria’s Schools and Universities: What Should the Stakeholders Do?," International Journal of Education, Training and Learning, Online Academic Press, vol. 1(1), pages 9-21.
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