Critical Analysis of Academic Integrity in Higher Learning Institutions During the Era of Covid-19 Pandemic in Kenya

Abstract

Education in Kenya and globally is designed to foster principles and ethics considering they instill a character that develops to a behavior. Education develops capacity and productivity by allowing learners to be innovative through acquisition of skills that help them appreciate the spirited efforts to uphold morals, ethics and building a commitment towards achieving academic integrity. Just like any other scholar the goal in education is to perform excellently. Learning in schools is certainly supported by the institutions policies, strategies and practices. Despite efforts to achieve learning during covid-19, growing concerns of increased academic misconduct arose in the midst of the pandemic, especially with the assimilation of online learning in the system. This being the case, the study sought to understand and investigate on critical analysis of academic integrity in higher learning institutions during the era of covid-19 pandemic in Kenya and considered the following objectives; to analyze the magnitude of academic integrity in education practices (teaching and learning i.e. online platforms, technology, assessment etc.) during covid-19, how education theories adopted academic integrity in education , how education policies ratified academic integrity in education and strategies to enhance academic integrity in education. The study generalized in all learning levels from primary to post-primary level. The study adopted the theories of deterrence theory, rational choice theory and planned behavior theory to help farther understand the influence of covid-19 to academic integrity. The methods of data collection included analytical function, prescriptive function and critical function. Data acquired from the study based on the objectives was analyzed and presented through which the findings indicated that academic policies, practices, strategies and theories had an influence in the achievement of academic integrity and that covid-19 pandemic critically influenced learning. The conclusion drawn from the findings was that despite the incorporation of ICT in the learning system academic integrity implementation faced many challenges. Self-determination theory displayed the ethical considerations of a learner through anonymity, data protection and confidentiality and how they were assumed hence promoting academic misconduct during covid-19. The study recommends that ethical awareness should be created from the lowest level of education, learners be involved in policy making process and given an opportunity to participate on the same. Also close monitoring of learners behavior would help curb dishonesty through close relationship with their teachers.