The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has proposed a more stringent ban on mobile phone use during examinations, one that not only applies to students but also to teachers and invigilators.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly constituted National Education Inspectorate Board, the Minister emphasised the urgent need to strengthen examination integrity and eliminate opportunities for malpractice.
“The idea of a student having access to phones in the examination room is a no-no,” Mr. Iddrisu stated. “Probably, we have to even review this concept to include the usage of phones by examiners and supervisors.”
The Minister revealed that there have been concerning incidents where some invigilators were suspected of aiding students in cheating. To address this, he recommended a firm review of who is permitted to bring a phone into the examination environment.
“In some instances of cheating, it may be some of them who are aiding the malpractice. Therefore, we have to limit who can carry a phone into an exam room,” he stressed.
While acknowledging that some officials may need phones for legitimate purposes, such as contacting exam centers or reporting incidents, Mr. Iddrisu maintained that such exceptions must come with rigorous enforcement and oversight.
“I would have pronounced a complete ban on phone usage, but we have cases where examiners must call for exam papers or send a report. Still, we expect strict compliance and enforceability of this directive,” he said.
He concluded by warning that any invigilators or exam personnel found to be complicit in examination malpractice would be held accountable, reinforcing the ministry’s commitment to upholding fairness and discipline in Ghana’s education system.
