Prevalence of Examination Malpractice and Its Relationship with Academic Self-Efficacy Among Students in Selected Public Secondary Schools in Lagos State

Examination malpractice has continued to undermine the credibility of academic assessment in Nigerian public secondary schools, with far-reaching consequences for student development and national educational standards. This study investigated the prevalence of examination malpractice and its relationship with academic self-efficacy among students in selected public secondary schools in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. A descriptive correlational design was employed, with data collected from 380 students in five co-educational public secondary schools across Ikeja and Badagry educational districts. The Examination Malpractice Attitude Scale and the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale were administered as research instruments. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results indicated that 61 percent of respondents had engaged in at least one form of malpractice in the preceding academic year, with impersonation and smuggling of written materials being the most common forms. A significant negative correlation was found between academic self-efficacy and involvement in examination malpractice, indicating that students with lower confidence in their academic abilities were more predisposed to dishonest practices. Gender and school location were not statistically significant moderating variables. The study recommended the integration of self-efficacy enhancement strategies within school counselling programmes and the strengthening of ethical education as part of the guidance curriculum. School administrators were urged to create a culture of academic integrity supported by counsellors trained in behavioural intervention. Keywords: examination malpractice, academic self-efficacy, secondary school, Lagos State, academic integrity.