Pupils’ Perceptions on Examination Malpractice at Secondary School Level in Lusaka District of Zambia: Causes and Solutions

The continued occurrence of examination malpractice globally has been of great concern to all education stakeholders. Considering the gravity and continuous occurrence of examination malpractice at secondary school level in Zambia, this study sought to investigate pupils’ perceptions on the causes and solutions to examination malpractice at secondary school level in Lusaka district of Zambia. The population of this study included all pupils in 10 selected government run secondary schools in Lusaka district. The study sample consisted of 300 pupils randomly selected. 30 pupils were selected from 10 schools. The instrument used to collect data was a questionnaire that was constructed by the researcher. The study revealed that examination malpractice in secondary schools take the form of leakage, collusion, computer system, external assistance, smuggling, impersonation, and substitution and examiner malpractice. Leakage, computer system, smuggling and collusion were identified as forms of examination malpractice that frequently occur while impersonation, substitution, examiner malpractice and external assistance occur least. The study also revealed that school, teacher, societal and pupil factors were the major causes of examination leakages. This revelation agrees with the theoretical framework of the study which identified that the unethical examination management practices of teachers, school administrators, parents, pupils and any other stakeholder in the examination management results into examination leakages. The results further revealed that pre-examination ethics were more desirable and the best way to control cheating amongst pupils. This study recommends punitive punishment to anyone who would engage in examination malpractice.