Abstract
Academic dishonesty is not only an immoral practice, but also an unlawful one. However, punitive measures to deter students should not be employed because they only serve to hurt the student. In addition to the trauma, a student who is handed down a punitive measure risks losing his right to an education. Therefore, the University and society at large should aim at helping the student overcome his challenges rather than deepen his wounds.
The Solution to Academic Dishonesty
The Director of Student Development, the University Committee, ladies and gentlemen. The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge. It is the key to unlocking the potential within all of us, especially the youth by disseminating the truth. The fact that we are all gathered here today is an indication of our appreciation of the significance of education in our lives. It is the most powerful weapon with which individuals and the society at large can use to change the world. The best interest is received by those who invest in education. Ladies and gentlemen, for years I have been a diligent and hardworking student. I have invested my whole into achieving my goals. I have focused my mind into turning my dreams into a reality. However, it has not been a smooth ride all through. I have faced a plethora of challenges and hurdles in my pursuit for success. My spirit has been strong but challenged. Being a perfectionist, the toil has been heavy on me to maintain my first-rate grades. In my quest to maintain the momentum, I was tempted. My integrity was compromised, but I kept the faith. My spirit was wounded, but my will to succeed and fight for my ambition is still going strong. I have realized that the roots of education may be bitter, but I have faith that the fruits are sweet. It is only by continuing my education that I can beat the beauty of this world and overcome my youthful challenges to secure a promising future.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am not here to sell my ambitions to you nor justify my indiscretion. However, I am here to provide a candid explanation for my actions. Academic dishonesty should not be viewed in isolation. It is a vice that transcends the classroom environment. It is more than just acts of peccadillo. It is a social problem and should be treated as such. The actual act of academic dishonesty is just a symptom of underlying problems. It is a cry for help. The student should be treated as a victim, not a perpetrator.
It is unfortunate that drastic measures such as expulsion and suspension of students are still being implemented. The right to education is a fundamental one. I don’t think that it should be conditionally whatever the case. Without education, neither justice nor freedom can be permanently maintained in this world. It is vital, therefore, that everyone takes it upon themselves to facilitate, and indeed encourage, students to attain the best possible levels of education. Just like there are challenges and problems in other sectors of life, there are bound to be some in the education sector. However, we don’t give up on living because we are experiencing a number of challenges. Therefore, it is neither morally right nor just to expel or suspend a student because of a few challenges that he might be facing.
In order to put my arguments into focus, ladies and gentlemen, let me explain a number of reasons for academic dishonesty. The overemphasis on grades rather than the learning process puts a lot of pressure on students. This makes students vulnerable and may cause loss of confidence in some of us. One might have studied and learnt a lot in class but lack the confidence to sit for the exam. This puts a lot of pressure on the student which can lead to cheating. Furthermore, the disconnection between the student and school community can also be a cause for cheating. Some teachers actually don’t care about their students. They don’t care about their health, social or economic life. This can make the student become dejected leading to cheating.
Ladies and gentlemen, I speak for the victims. I speak for the few that get caught. I appeal to you all that lets all join hands and cure the disease rather than its symptoms. The prevalence of academic dishonesty in learning institutions is chilling. Using punitive measures to sanctions the few students who have been caught to deter the rest will not work. It has been used before, here and elsewhere, it is bound to fail miserably. It is an experiment in futility. Fines, probations, restricted privileges and special projects have all been used elsewhere and have been found wanting. Cheating has become a cancer that is eating away the moral fabric of our society.
With this in mind, ladies and gentlemen, I propose a new approach. It is a better strategy to counter an evil that is eating away our intellectual growth. Let us try something different. It is something new that will set the trend. The whole university curriculum should place value on the learning process and not grades. The university community should emphasize on capacity building and skills training rather than cramming for tests and term papers. More significantly, educators should be involved in the student community in order to understand the students’ abilities and talents. Lastly, ladies and gentlemen, let us not lose faith in the students. The past has no power over the present and the future. Everyone deserves a second chance.
