Causes of Examination Failure among the Students of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria: A Review

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue VII, July 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Causes of Examination Failure among the Students of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria: A Review

N.G. Hayatu^1* and B.B. Abubakar^2
1Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
²Department of Agricultural Economics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author

Abstract: – Nowadays, the academic of performance of students in most Nigerian tertiary institution has become an object of inquiry. In view of the above statement, a literature review study was conducted to identify, highlight and summarize the major causes of examination failure among the students of tertiary institution in Nigeria. From the findings of the study, failure in examination could be attributed to two variables, which are internal and external factors. The internal factors are basically student-related, whereas the external factors are teacher-related, parent-related, school-related and government-related, but the bulk of blame was shifted to teachers and students even though some researches indicated contrary view. The paper highlighted critically the role and extent of each factor in causing examination failure. It also buttressed some of the flimsy excuses student should do away with as they indication of failing individual. Example of these excuses were, I cannot manage my time, I cannot work on my lecture notes except in the class, I don’t have a caring friend etc. However, it is therefore recommended that, each stakeholder should study their role in this regard and work on them in order to avert huge academic failure of students in our tertiary institutions.

Key Words: Examination, failure, examination malpractice, teacher and student

I. INTRODUCTION

Today we live to witness an era where by cases of general examination misconduct and examination malpractice with their different forms are becoming rampant, academic corruption is rapidly growing, moral decadences are perpetuating, quality of education is dramatically reducing; all in the name of avoiding examination failure. In due course, students will do everything possible to satisfy their desire of passing at all cost in order to obtain certificates- without which they cannot be employed, and to protect themselves from family and societal stigmatization due to failure. The end results of these social-vices are; students involved in malpractice end of being rusticated or expelled from schools, having fake graduates with fake certificates enshroud under the umbrella of the compromised certificate and graduates who cannot optimally or even minimally deliver the services required of them.

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