PRACTICES OF EXAMINATION CHEATING IN SOME SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF DINSHO DISTRICT IN BALE ZONE, OROMIA-ETHIOPIA

The purpose of this study was to assess practices of examination cheating in some selected secondary schools of Dinsho District in Bale Zone, Oromia; within the context of pragmatism paradigm. The combination of qualitative and quantitative research method, (the mixed research method) and specifically concurrent triangulation mixed research design were employed in the study. Relevant data were gathered from both primary and secondary sources through questionnaires, interview, focus group discussion, observation and document analysis. Both probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used to select participants from various groups. To this effect, a sample of 193 participants from two secondary schools; consisting of 60 teachers, 110 students, 5 school principals, 1 supervisor, 14 PTA members and 3 district educational officers were selected and used as a sample of the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods were used to analyze the data. Qualitative data were analyzed through narrative description and /or direct quotations of the opinions of the participants. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used to analyze and present quantitative data. Accordingly, different statistical tools such as frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t- test, correlations and multiple regression were employed to describe the data quantitatively while clustering in to meanings which was developed in to themes by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 22) and to test the significance of relationships at 0.05 alpha level. Tables, charts and graphs were used to present the interpretation and findings of the study. Thus the findings of the study revealed that more than 70% of students were learn to get good grades or good certificates for good jobs and more than 58% of students were engaged in examination cheating. Additionally, the desire to pass examinations, failure to understand the subjects, improper seating arrangement and convenience of objective tests were the main contributing factors in the study area. Among examination cheating mechanisms; copying from each other, sitting close to other student to copy examinations and taking a cheat paper into the examination room were ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. It recommended that; taking care for students, involving students in examination cheating control, making or realizing the awareness of the students and use of proper teaching method as the mechanism to minimize examination cheating. 6