Education is like a journey. When children are going to school, they are supposed to know the implications of this journey they are embarking on and the destination. Students should be aware that quality education rewards. Business success, team spirit, good values, and problem solving skills, among others, are fruits of good education.

Keeping oneself motivated is one of the prime responsibilities of a student. This is because taking responsibility for our own learning prepares us for the unexpected, and for our future.

The teacher is more of a facilitator while a student is more of a task monitor. A student should take a lead role in managing their study time, doing research and home works, as well as approaching teachers for better understanding if they are to get the best from their education.

Teachers should involve students in setting their own learning goals through guided class discussions. Students should choose how they wish to learn. The teacher’s guidance should encourage self-monitoring among students.

However, do students take their role in their education serious? I have observed that majority of students do not know or do this. When given homework, or any home assignment, they tend to relax or simply copy answers from friends. Some hire other people to do it for them.

It is standard practice for schools to distribute work (homework, take home CATs, reading materials, etc.) to learners at the end of every day or every week. Sadly, some learners come back to school with work not done, or rush through it for the sake of avoiding punishment. When asked why, they claim to have been busy with home chores or other activities after school.

Unfortunately, this is behavior has got adverse long-term effects on students:  Students who cheat lose an element of personal integrity that is difficult to reverse, and when hired by employers based on the good grades they acquired wrongly will not be able to solve problems, offer ideas, or handle the workload effectively.

Research shows that students who repeatedly plagiarise Internet content lose the ability to think critically and to distinguish legitimate sources from those that are not, and that students who cheat in high school are more likely to do the same in college, as well as being more likely to behave dishonestly on the job.

Such kind of students ignore that their future is in their hands and that tomorrow should be secured today. Trying on their own and probably failing is a better way to learn instead of plagiarizing.

Recognition should be made to those learners who work tirelessly to attain their dreams, manage well their times, foresee, try and fail instead of failing to try, and take the advice of their tutors. They are not a burden to their parents, teachers, sponsors, and guardians, and have a higher chance to succeed in life after school.

The writer is a lecturer at Christian University of Rwanda.