Factors Influencing Pupils’ Involvement in Examination Malpractices in Public Primary Schools, Kikuyu Sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing pupils‟ involvement in examination malpractices in KCPE examination in public primary schools in Kikuyu sub-county, Kenya. The study objectives were to determine the extent to which KCPE examination ranking at zone level, time of syllabus coverage, teachers‟ alleged involvement in cheating, and head teachers‟ societal pressure to perform influence pupils‟ involvement in examination malpractices in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in public primary schools in Kikuyu Sub-county. The study was based on Achievement Goal Theory that postulated on the association of goal oriented performance and learner achievement. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The total population for this study consisted of 57 headteachers, 456 teachers and 1,765 Standard Eight pupils in the 57 public primary schools in Kikuyu sub-county. The study used stratified sampling to select schools based on their educational zone distribution. Purposive sampling was used to select 36 head teachers in the sampled public primary schools. Simple random sampling was used to sample 5 teachers and 10 class eight pupils from each sampled school in the schools. Therefore, the total sample of the study comprised of 36 head teachers, 180 teachers and 360 pupils. Data were collected using questionnaires for head teachers, teachers and pupils. Piloting was conducted in order to determine the reliability and validity of the instruments. Data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The study realized a total response rate at 87.5 percent. The study findings revealed that ranking schools in KCPE examination highly contributed to stakeholders‟ involvement in examination malpractices. Inadequate students‟ preparation for KCPE examinations through timely syllabus coverage trigger learners to engage in different forms of examination malpractices. Teachers are alleged to be involvement in cheating to assist their pupils perform better. Headteachers‟ societal pressure to perform has a significant influence on pupils involvement in examination malpractices in KCPE examinations. Therefore, it can be concluded that ranking, students‟ preparation, teachers involvement and headteachers pressure to perform contributed to pupils involvement in examination malpractices to a high extent. The researcher recommended that all educational stakeholders should be involved during examinations so as to ensure overall discouragement on the collaborative cheating among students and sensitize them on honesty. This would ensure that the school administration ensure that the pupils get their honest grades without involving themselves in malpractices to preserve the school‟s image.