Pride is twofold: the negative one that connotes vanity and self-importance; and the positive one that means greatness of soul and magnanimity.  Every human being needs to be positively proud. Without this positive pride, you are likely to have low self-esteem and all the consequences that come with it.

As a scholar, this pride is manifest in the value you attach to your independence and originality. When you write an essay, your lecturer wants to see originality and independence of thought. But when you steal other people’s ideas and present them as your own, then you are a plagiarist.  Plagiarism is responsible for destroying one’s self confidence.  When you cheat and rely on Internet and other sources to copy essays, you lose trust in your ability to form your own opinions, knowledge or judgment. Schools that cheat for candidates are responsible for moulding uncertain and corrupt citizens.
I have met some people who have confessed their inability to write an exam independently. During the exam, they are not settled; they are sweaty and easily feel scared. They also prefer the corners of the exam room and they go to limits of writing notes on the most sacred parts of God’s temple (1 Cor. 6:19). A certain lecturer said that at one time he caught some one cheating in an exam  and when he asked this person to hand over the notes, the candidate swallowed the paper to destroy evidence! It takes a very desperate person to actually eat and swallow a piece of paper and ink!
Plagiarism can be deliberate where someone actively seeks to copy and cheat; or it can be inadvertent where someone mistakenly plagiarizes by failure to cite sources or by taking phones and other things to the exam room. It is best to ensure that we are well-versed with the citation styles; and also to read and follow the exam rules and regulations.
In some countries, there is minimal invigilation of exams. Students know that plagiarism, even by a few individuals, devalues their degrees and so work together to see to it that there is no cheating in the examination rooms. Open book exams are also common where students are left to consult textbooks as they write the exam with an understanding that they will not cheat.
Can you imagine a time when it will be known, worldwide, that at Uganda Christian University, there is no exam invigilation but students do not cheat? Can you imagine a time when, at this centre of excellence, students write their exams in peace without lecturers walking up and down and robbing them of their concentration?
Cheating is rampant these days with UNEB cancelling results of entire examination centres. Here at UCU cases of plagiarism are being handled at both departmental and administrative levels. This is an indicator of moral decadence in our society.
This examination season, we must know that Uganda Christian University is known for its integrity. As the light of this country, we must take pride in guarding this asset zealously.

The writer is a lecturer in the department of Languages and Literature