ABSTRACT
This study attempted to investigate ?the potency of social studies education in curbing examination malpractice among JSS students in Zaria Educational Zone, Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. A total of three hundred and seventy nine male and female junior secondary school students were sampled for the study out of the total population of 26,322 but only 372 students responded. Ten schools were selected from both urban and rural areas using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected with social studies instrument for examination malpractice questionnaire (SSIEMQ) constructed by the researcher. This research is aimed at reducing examination malpractice among junior secondary school students in Zaria Educational Zone of Kaduna State. Three (3) research questions were raised and answered using percentage and frequency tables, comparative frequencies of response, mean and standard deviations. Three (3) hypotheses raised for the study were tested using inferential statistical technique of Independent t-test at 0.05 levels of significance. However, results indicated that examination malpractice discourages hard work among JSS2 and JSS3 students. The study also revealed that the value acquired through the teaching of social studies education discourages the involvement of students from rural and urban areas in examination malpractice. It was discovered during this study that, it is possible to use social studies education to reduce desperation during examinations among JSS2 and JSS3 students. Based on these findings, it was recommended that Social studies curriculum should be reviewed by NERDC in consonance with the dynamics of the contemporary society to counter challenges of examination malpractices among JSS students. Guidance counsellors should be employed by government and posted to junior secondary schools to help students in self understanding and self management, in relation to how they can utilize their assets and manage their abilities and capabilities for optimal development so as to minimize examination malpractices among junior secondary school students. Students and teachers of social studies in Zaria educational zone, Nigeria should be encouraged to attend seminars and workshops on how to reduce examination malpractices especially through social studies teaching and learning process. Only social studies teachers who are of good moral standing should be employed to teach social studies.