COUNSELLING STRATEGIES FOR CURTAILING EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR PROMOTING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Abstract

Examination malpractice has remained one of the most persistent challenges confronting tertiary education in Nigeria. The phenomenon undermines the credibility of academic qualifications, weakens the quality of graduates, encourages corruption, and threatens national development. Despite government regulations and institutional disciplinary measures, the prevalence of examination malpractice continues to rise due to poor value orientation, fear of failure, inadequate preparation, peer pressure, financial difficulties, and the increasing misuse of digital technologies. Counselling has emerged as one of the most sustainable preventive strategies because it addresses the psychological, emotional, behavioural, and social factors that predispose students to dishonest examination practices. This paper reviewed counselling strategies that can effectively curtail examination malpractice in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Specifically, the paper discusses value re-orientation counselling, individual counselling, group counselling, cognitive behavioural counselling, study skills counselling, career counselling, stress and examination anxiety management, peer counselling, parental involvement counselling, and orientation programmes for fresh students. The review adopted a narrative literature review approach through the analysis of empirical studies, theoretical literature, and policy documents on counselling and examination malpractice. The paper concludes that counselling interventions should complement institutional disciplinary measures to achieve sustainable academic integrity. It recommends strengthening counselling centres in tertiary institutions, employing qualified professional counsellors, integrating counselling into students' orientation programmes, and promoting continuous ethical education across Nigerian higher institutions.