Documenting examination malpractices in selected secondary schools in Wakiso District of Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the state of the documentation of examination malpractices in selected secondary schools in Wakiso district, with a view of identifying challenges and laying strategies for improved documentation. The objectives were: to establish the extent to which examination malpractices have been documented in secondary schools in Wakiso district; identify constraints and to suggest strategies for documenting of information related to curbing examination malpractices. The study adopted a qualitative design to probe the issues deeply. Content analysis and Face to Face Interviews were the main data collection methods applied in the study; while snowball, intensity and opportunistic sampling were used. Major findings revealed that very little documentation about examination malpractices exists at all levels; there are various forms of examination malpractice; and the concept of examination malpractice is not known by everybody. Various challenges that hinder documentation of examination malpractices were noted. Major conclusions include that: UNEB has made an effort to document examination malpractices including causes, forms and measures to curb examination malpractices. However, there is no policy to govern how this should be done; schools in Wakiso district have not made an effort to document cases of examination malpractices in their schools even when they have been cited as having been involved in examination malpractices before. Major recommendations include: establishment of an Examination Malpractice Information System (EMIS); adoption of policy on examination malpractices; systematic documentation of examination malpractices; motivation of examination supervisors; increasing examination security; and the revision of the UNEB 1983 Act.