The Dark Side of Exams: A History of Examination Malpractice

Examinations have been an essential part of the education system for centuries. They are common across the globe and used to assess the knowledge and skills of students. However, the history of exams is quite intriguing. Did you know that exams were invented by a Philanthropist and a Businessman named Henry Fischel in the 19th century?



Fischel's idea of examinations focused on two main aspects - interior and exterior testing. He postulated that these assessments would test how much students are familiar with what they have been taught. His philosophy has shaped the history that many of us have learned.



The first country to widely implement the concept of examination was ancient China. The country's government organized a national assessment known as the Imperial Examination. The Sui Dynasty set up this exam in 605 AD, and its purpose was to select people for government positions. However, the exam was abolished in 1905.



In our modern-day society, examinations have evolved into different assessments such as multiple-choice questions, essay assessments, personality tests, research papers, and term papers. In some scenarios, students are tested with a combination of different types of evaluations.



Despite the importance of exams, they have been plagued by a serious problem - examination malpractice. Examination malpractice is any illegal act performed by a candidate alone or in collaboration with others like fellow students, parents, teachers, supervisors, invigilators, printers, and anybody or group of people before, during, or after examinations to achieve illegal and unfair marks or grades.


                               
Based on real-time information, exam malpractice is said to have originated in Nigeria. The first recorded instance of examination malpractice in the country was in 1914 when the question papers of the senior Cambridge local examinations were seen by candidates before the scheduled date of the exam. Since then, it has become a widespread issue in the education system.



The main factors that contribute to the widespread of this malpractice include corruption, poor implementation of examination rules, students and parental threats, no fear of punishment, inadequate preparation for examination, poor invigilation, collusion, disloyalty of examination bodies, fear of failure, poor morale, and economic depression of supervisory staff.



To prevent examination malpractice, we need to understand the factors that contribute to it. Some of the things that can be done to prevent examination malpractice include reducing the pressure on students to perform well on exams, improving the quality of teaching and learning, strengthening examination security measures, and changing cultural attitudes towards cheating.



In conclusion, exams have come a long way since their invention by Henry Fischel in the 19th century. They have evolved into different forms and are now a crucial part of the education system. However, examination malpractice remains a significant issue, and we must take steps to prevent it. 

References

1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277073420_Factors_Contributing_to_Examination_Malpractices_at_Secondary_School_Level_in_Kohat_Division_Pakistan
2. https://www.studocu.com/en-us/document/university-of-the-people/business-communications/nifemiss-project-on-examination-malpractise/21189145#:~:text=of%20examination%20malpractice-,Examination%20malpractice%20was%20first%20recorded%20in%20the%20country%20in%201914,scheduled%20date%20of%20the%20exam
3. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Billiah-Gisore?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6Il9kaXJlY3QiLCJwYWdlIjoiX2RpcmVjdCJ9fQ
4. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277073420_Factors_Contributing_to_Examination_Malpractices_at_Secondary_School_Level_in_Kohat_Division_Pakistan