BY LEULSEGED WORKU
These days, cheating during examination has become an increasing trend and the most disturbing matter in the education sector worldwide. As researches on cheating during exam confirm, some types of academic cheating has increased considerably in the past decades.
Particularly, following the advancement of technology, ways of cheating during examination are increasing alarmingly; and is becoming the most demanding task globally.
The case is not different in Ethiopia. Copying from seatmates and cheating during exams are quite common practices among students with the purpose of scoring better results by any means. Worst of all, aside from the cheating experiences of most students, exams were stolen and distributed secretly by some politically motivated, self-interested entities in a manner it seems to benefit some groups; thereby disrupt the educational system.
Unquestionably, such acts have undesirable social, economic and political consequences on hardworking students, the economy of the country.
However, the Ministry of Education, with the aim to curb such trends and generate qualified students, has devised a new mechanism- to offer Grade 12 National Leaving Examination in public universities.
As many agreed, the measure has a crucial role in creating self-reliant citizens who detest academic cheating and unhealthy dependency on friends and seatmates during exams. The measure is not only benefiting individual students but also the whole nation.
While students were taking the examination, a local media had an interview with examinees to hear their opinion concerning the measure.
Tiruneh Zewdu, is a young student from Arsi Zone who is assigned to take the examination in Haramaya University. According to him, all measures that are taken by the government to avoid cheating during exams are timely action. The government has shown its commitment to quality education in several ways. The recent measure that lets grade 12th students take exams in government universities is one of them.
Mentioning the arrangements, hospitality and the treatment he received from University community is warm; he said: “All the exam arrangements were free from stress. For that reason, he and the rest of his friends have finalized their examination peacefully. This trend has to be kept in the future as well.
Kokob Bekele is the other examinee coming from Welenchiti Town, East Showa Zone of Oromia State. She said, the decision made by the government is timely and appropriate. Examinations must be free from cheating and individuals who try to risk the education system must be discouraged in such a system. She also opined that the national exam provides a good opportunity for students to measure themselves; and to know their true level of knowledge.
Ismail Ibrahim is the other examinee from Arisi Town. He said that all the examination arrangements were fair; and encouraged students to prepare themselves for a better future. This kind of examination encourages the one who studies hard and filters out the one who carelessly wasted his/her time.
Geta Messay came from the town of Wolenchiti. According to him, the measure to conduct national examinations in higher education institutes has a significant role not only for students but also for the whole nation. “Whenever examinations are free from cheating and other activities that damage the educational system of the country, there is always a better future for those students studying dedicatedly and committedly. This in turn benefits the whole system of the nation.” Conducting national examination under such arrangement has a significant role in creating academically qualified, responsible and change agent generation.”
Like that of students who took the national examination in Haramaya University, those who attended the 12th grade leaving exam at Mizan Tepi University have confirmed that the measure taken by the government to abort the practice of academic cheating is decisive to create self-reliant students in the future.
Demse Komtikes is among the students who believe in hard working instead of cheating. He said, “We have taken the exam with full confidence and out of anxiety. We were able to get rid of our fear and anxiety and take the exam in a calm spirit. For that reason, our biggest threat- cheating on exams and – was avoided and we are able to take all the exams with confidence.”
Demse also said, the measure taken by the government is a caution to those carless students who always aspire to cheat instead of reading. Equally, it motivates those independent students who study hard.
As it was witnessed last Wednesday, the first round examinees (Social Science students) have returned to their respective places finalizing the examination peacefully.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER R 2022
