Effect of Examination Malpractice on Educational Standards in Secondary Schools in Edo State

This study examines the effect of examination malpractice on educational standards in public secondary schools in Edo State, South South Nigeria. Examination malpractice has long been identified as a corrosive force in the Nigerian education system, undermining the integrity of certification, devaluing academic credentials, and eroding the culture of honest intellectual effort. Despite several legislative and institutional responses, malpractice remains prevalent in many examination centres across Edo State. The study adopts a descriptive survey design and samples 380 students, teachers, and examination supervisors from 35 secondary schools across Benin, Esan, and Etsako senatorial districts. Data are collected through questionnaires and structured interviews, and analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The study is anchored on the Institutional Theory of educational quality. Findings reveal that malpractice is fuelled by academic pressure, inadequate preparation, weak institutional sanctions, and collusion among supervisors and school administrators. Schools in which malpractice is widespread consistently record lower long-term academic achievement among graduates entering tertiary institutions. The study recommends the strengthening of institutional sanctions, comprehensive examination ethics education, and the adoption of technology-based assessment tools to reduce opportunities for malpractice. Keywords: examination malpractice, educational standards, academic integrity, secondary schools, Edo State.