Dishonesty – JSS3 Civic Education Lesson Note (First Term)

Dishonesty is the quality of being untruthful in words and actions when dealing with others or yourself.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain the meaning of dishonesty;
2. give examples of dishonest acts;
3. state the causes and consequences of dishonesty;
4. explain how examination malpractice leads to incompetent professionals;
5. describe how dishonesty harms the image of Nigeria.

What is dishonesty?

Dishonesty is any act of lying, cheating or stealing that deceives other people for personal gain.

• In words: telling lies, making false promises and giving false information.
• In actions: cheating, stealing, forging documents and misusing money.
• Towards yourself: pretending to know what you do not know, or refusing to admit your faults.
• Opposite: honesty, which means being truthful, fair and trustworthy in all things.

What are the forms of dishonesty?

Dishonesty shows itself in many forms, in school, in business, in government and at home.

• Examination malpractice: copying, impersonation, giving or receiving answers, bringing in forbidden materials and buying leaked questions.
• Lying: giving false accounts to others, particularly about money.
• Stealing: taking what belongs to another person without permission.
• Embezzlement: misuse of school, government or organisation funds entrusted to a person.
• Bribery and corruption: giving or taking money or gifts to get unfair favours.
• Forgery: making fake certificates, signatures or other documents.
• Advance fee fraud (‘419’): tricking people into paying money for a deal that does not exist.
• Electoral malpractice: vote buying, ballot box snatching and falsifying results.
• Cheating in business: selling fake goods or giving short measures.

What are the causes of dishonesty?

Dishonesty has several causes, and most of them come from wrong values and wrong pressure.

• Greed: the wish to have more than one needs or has earned.
• Laziness: some students cheat because they did not read, and some adults want wealth without work.
• Peer pressure: friends push others to join in wrong acts.
• Fear of failure: a person lies or cheats to avoid punishment or shame.
• Poor moral training: children who are not taught good values at home and in school may grow up dishonest.
• Love of quick wealth: society sometimes praises riches without asking how they were gained.

What are the consequences of dishonesty?

The consequences of dishonesty harm the individual, other citizens and the whole nation.

• Lack of competent professionals: doctors, teachers and lawyers who get certificates through dubious means may be incompetent, because they may have cheated in examinations.
• Low standard of education: some teachers offer ‘help’ in examinations to students who have not prepared, and this weakens learning.
• Hardship: embezzling money meant for basic amenities, such as water, roads and hospitals, causes hardship for citizens.
• Frustration and poverty: victims of advance fee fraud lose money, and some fall into despair or ill health. Many businesses have collapsed because of dishonest people.
• Untimely death of innocent citizens: half-baked professionals such as doctors or pharmacists may give wrong prescriptions, and patients may die.
• Election of corrupt leaders: electoral malpractice puts the wrong persons in office. They may embezzle public money and fail to keep their promises to the electorate.
• Damage to the nation’s image: foreigners who hear of certificate forgery and duping may judge Nigerians as dishonest. They may then be unwilling to do business with Nigerians.
• Loss of trust: a person known to be dishonest is not believed, even when he or she tells the truth.
• Punishment: offenders may be expelled, sacked, fined or jailed.

How does examination malpractice lead to incompetent professionals?

Examination malpractice lets people pass without the knowledge the certificate says they have.

1. A student cheats instead of studying.
2. The student passes and gets a certificate without the needed knowledge or skill.
3. The student gains admission or a job because of the certificate.
4. The person practises as a doctor, teacher, engineer or lawyer without real competence.
5. Mistakes follow, such as wrong treatment, poor teaching or badly built structures.
6. Innocent people suffer, and public trust in Nigerian certificates falls.

What is the difference between honesty and dishonesty?

Honesty is truthfulness and fair dealing, while dishonesty is deceit and unfair dealing.

How can dishonesty be reduced?

Dishonesty can be reduced through good training, fair rules and firm punishment of offenders.

• Moral training: parents and teachers should teach honesty by word and by example.
• Strict supervision: examinations should be carefully invigilated.
• Fair sanctions: examination bodies and schools should punish cheats, for example by cancelling results.
• Anti-corruption agencies: the EFCC and the ICPC investigate and prosecute fraud and corruption.
• Rewarding honesty: society should respect people who earn their wealth by hard work.
• Hard work: students should read and prepare well so that they feel no need to cheat.

Evaluation

1. Define dishonesty.
2. Give three examples of dishonest acts.
3. How can examination malpractice lead to the death of patients?
4. Explain how electoral malpractice affects citizens.
5. How does dishonesty affect the image of Nigeria?

Assignment

1. Explain the meaning of dishonesty and describe four of its consequences.