Security Breach: A Threat to the Quality of Examination and Assessment
Abstract
The issue of security breach has become a phenomenon challenging the quality of service
delivery in most organizations globally. The educational system has not been left out by this
social misfit. The quality of examination and assessment in educational system has sometimes
been bedeviled by this peccadillo. This paper examines the impact of security breach on the
quality of examination and assessment in Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was
used in selecting 1200 participants spread into 600 students, 300 teachers and 300 NABTEB
examination officers from southern geo-political zones of Nigeria. Three different instruments
were developed by the researcher and administered on these groups of respondents. Their
responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and t- test. The study reveals that
desperation for success, inadequate funding of education, inadequate logistic planning and
dishonesty on the part of the examination personnel among others largely constitute risk factors
to the quality of examination and assessment. It further reveals that the use of security officers at
examination centres makes significant contributions to effective examination and assessment. It
finally reveals that there is no significant difference between the perceptions of the examination
officers and those of teachers about the impact of security breach on the success of examination.
The study recommends that both government and individuals have to put in concerted efforts to
combat this social vice that has eaten deep into the quality of examination and assessment in
sub-Saharan Africa.
Keywords: Security, Security Breach, Quality, Examination and Assessment.
Dr. O. A. Aworanti (2014)
Security Breach: A Threat to the Quality of Examination and Assessment
Abstract The issue of security breach has become a phenomenon challenging the quality of service delivery in most organizations globally. The educational system has not been left out by this social misfit. The quality of examination and assessment in educational system has sometimes been bedeviled by this peccadillo. This paper examines the impact of security breach on the quality of examination and assessment in Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used in selecting 1200 participants spread into 600 students, 300 teachers and 300 NABTEB examination officers from southern geo-political zones of Nigeria. Three different instruments were developed by the researcher and administered on these groups of respondents. Their responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and t- test. The study reveals that desperation for success, inadequate funding of education, inadequate logistic planning and dishonesty on the part of the examination personnel among others largely constitute risk factors to the quality of examination and assessment. It further reveals that the use of security officers at examination centres makes significant contributions to effective examination and assessment. It finally reveals that there is no significant difference between the perceptions of the examination officers and those of teachers about the impact of security breach on the success of examination. The study recommends that both government and individuals have to put in concerted efforts to combat this social vice that has eaten deep into the quality of examination and assessment in sub-Saharan Africa. Keywords: Security, Security Breach, Quality, Examination and Assessment.