THE EFFECT OF A PUBLIC SERVICE INFORMATION CAMPAIGN AT IMT AND ESCET ON EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE PREVENTION

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

On personal observation the researcher discovered, after hours of touring the premises of IMT and ESCET respectively, countless notices of room vacancies at IMT, a few HIV/AIDS and cultism campaign billboards in both institutions and only ONE inconspicuously painted sign at ESCET which read, stop examination malpractices study hard. This goes to show how only little energy has been channeled towards curbing the vice, under study, present in both institutions of learning.

Examination malpractices in Nigeria have attained a frightening proportion. It is sophisticated and institutionalized. Unfortunately, it involves youth between the ages of 1823 years. Efforts by government administrations and various stakeholders in the educational sector to avert the ugly trend have not yielded fruit.

According to Eromosele 2001,

from the present trend, examination malpractices will utterly destroy the quality of education in Nigeria if decisive steps are not taken to avert or checkmate the trend.

Ruwa 1997 traced back examination malpractices to 1914. Its situation is so embarrassing to the nation that the federal military government in 1984 promulgated Decree 20 to deal with it. However, this decree was revised by the Examination Malpractices Act 33 of 1999. Other measures adopted too were the War Against Indiscipline and Corruption WAIC of the Buhari/Idiagbon regime and MAMSER of Babangida regime. Despite these steps, the evil continues to eat deep into the system.

Whereas in the past students tend to hide examination malpractice acts, now they advertise them without any fear or shame. Recently, several studies suggest that students are turning towards more private values, primarily towards selffulfillment in a career. The strong shift towards ethical and liberal political values appears to have slowed. As a result, the trends towards increased social liberalism, cultism, deemphasis on automatic acceptance of authority, and examination malpractices have continued to rise.

One of the objectives of education in Nigeria is to prepare the young ones to face future challenges and develop them to meet the nations manpower requirements. Schools need to conduct examinations as a yardstick for assessment. In the recent past, there has been a renewed effort to wage war against corruption at international, regional and national dimensions. Yet the following questions are unanswered: why have youths decided to join the corruption train What are the strategies that have been used to fight this particular corruption Why are these strategies not winning the war What are the options for winning the war As it is, the war could be lost forever since universally accepted and time tested strategies are not effectively or efficiently utilized.

The intent of this study is to extend earlier efforts by examining the effect of a public service information campaign also called Public Service AdvertisingPSA at IMT Polytechnic and ESCET College of Education on examination malpractice prevention. The researcher hopes to contribute to the continuing elucidation of PSAs on students. He is motivated by some of the same questions and concerns that scholars have pondered on for decades. Thus, interest in all levels of education has been focused on its impact on student values and its role in the creation of socially and politically concerned individuals. Much research has concentrated on changes in attitude and personality as a result of the educational experience.

Advertising is essentially persuasive communication. Thus, the goals set for advertising are communication tasks: to reach a defined audience, to a given extent, and during a given time period. The public move from unawareness of a policy to awareness and then to knowledge, liking, preference, conviction and then action. Public service information campaigns are non partisan and noncommercial. They promote causes, influence behavior and advertise locally and nationally social betterment. According to Igbuzor 2005, there are six questions that should test the seriousness of any anticorruption crusade. These are: Is it systematic Is it comprehensive Is it consistent Does it have focus Is it wellpublicized Does it carry people along

Students are generally known with consistent mobility; on foot, by public transportation or personal vehicles. Thus, outdoor advertising is an effective way of reaching them. It offers the lowest cost per exposure of any major advertising medium, and it produces a major impact, because it is usually big, colourful, brief in content and hard to ignore. It primarily serves as a reminder medium. It comes in posters billboards, painted bulletins, signs, handbills or even transit and shelter advertising.

Youths are one of the nations greatest assets. The Nigerian youth grapples with the problem of corruption ranging from examination malpractices to fraud. It is incontrovertible that examination malpractice thrives in a corrupt society which indicates that it is in the psyche of the people. Theories have maintained that human morality springs from the emotional disposition that is hardwired in our species. Therefore corruption can only be tackled there.

Through an effective conscience appeal, this study hopes to provide the answers to most of the enquiries contained in this segment of the study and the reason more attention should be concentrated on adopting outdoor PSA measures as a new strategy towards preventing examination malpractices.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

a. The time of PSA placement may not correspond with ESCETs academic schedule.

b. The wrong outdoor medium or a poor presentation of the chosen medium is used.

c. The location of the medium used is out of place considering students mobility.

d. More attention is paid to the campaign against other societal ills.

e. Difficulty in achieving intended attitudinal results towards examination malpractice prevention.

These are the problems which motivated the researcher towards embarking on this study.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

a. To ensure that more attention and interest is drawn towards the use of outdoor PSAs.

b. To create a strong conviction in ESCET and IMTs students towards shunning all forms of examination malpractices.

c. To determine suitable placement locations for the medium considering students mobility.

d. To ensure that PSA placement timing synchronizes with that of the institutions academic calendar.

All these determine the high degree of effectiveness the campaign could achieve.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

In times past decrees have been promulgated, NGOs established, management policies adopted, even stiff fines have been stipulated, yet the scourge thrives.

Consequently, this study offers an easier way of achieving a gradual positive transition in the lives of the youth as can be observed through the following beneficiaries:

a. The management of tertiary institutions, which includes invigilators, examination coordinators, course lecturers etc, is placed in a better position to produce a greater number of credible graduates.

b. Governmental or non governmental agencies responsible for tackling corruption related issues are given a greater opportunity at ridding the society off this vice.

c. It could serve as a forum for academic discuss, equally acting as a reminder, for the benefit of concerned and interested individuals in the society.

d. Parents and guardians are assured a greater sense of pride and confidence in the capabilities and achievements of their wards.

e. Finally, all the above would be assured a more secure future for the country especially if the youth, the root cause, take into consideration past mistakes and try to make good the present in good faith.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

a. To what extent is PSA placement timing corresponding with IMT and ESCETs examination schedule

b. To what extent are positive behavioural results attainable

c. To what extent can suitable placement locations be determined considering students mobility

d. To what extent is interest geared towards the campaigns medium

e. To what extent is increased interest in the campaign to contribute to its effectiveness

1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

a. H₀: PSA placement timing does not correspond with ESCET and IMTs schedule

H₁: PSA placement timing corresponds with ESCET and IMTs schedule

b. H₀: positive behavioural results are not attainable

H₂: positive behavioural results are attainable

c. H₀: suitable placement locations cannot be determined considering students mobility.

H₃: suitable placement locations can be determined considering students mobility.

d. H₀: interest cannot be geared towards the campaigns medium.

H₄: interest can be geared towards the campaigns medium.

e. H₀: increased interest cannot contribute to the campaigns effectiveness.

H₅: increased interest can contribute to the campaigns effectiveness.

1.7 CONCEPTUAL AND OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

The researcher used some terms that connote different meanings to different situations. The terms are hereunder defined to differentiate their conceptual and operational meanings:

EFFECT

Conceptual: being in force or operation often from a particular point in time

PUBLIC SERVICE ADVERTISEMENTS PSAs

Conceptual: advertisements intended to promote an idea in order to influence behavior

EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE

Operational: all forms of cheating in a test of knowledge which directly or indirectly falsifies the ability of the student.

PREVENTION

Operational: establishing measures to avoid a situation that could occur

INSTITUTIONALIZED

Conceptual: dependent on routine of an institution because of having spent a long time there

Operational: established as normal because of having existed for so long

INCONSPICUOUS

Operational: not brightly coloured or easily noticed

AVERT