The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has advocated for the extension of the ban on mobile phone use in examination halls to include teachers and invigilators. During the swearing-in ceremony of the new National Education Inspectorate Board, the Minister emphasised the importance of strengthening examination integrity and reducing cheating in schools. “Allowing students to have access to phones in the examination room is unacceptable. We may need to review this policy to also restrict phone usage by examiners and supervisors,” he stated.
Mr. Iddrisu highlighted that there have been instances where some invigilators may have assisted students in cheating during exams, indicating a need for stricter controls. “In some cases of cheating, it may be some of the invigilators who are involved; therefore, we must limit who can bring a phone into the exam room,” he explained. While acknowledging that some examiners might need phones for official communication—such as contacting for exam papers or filing reports—he insisted that any exceptions must be accompanied by strict enforcement.
“I would have pronounced a complete ban on phone usage, but we have cases when examiners will have to call for exam papers or send a report. But we expect strict compliance and enforceability of this,” he added. Mr. Iddrisu emphasised that any invigilators found to be complicit in examination malpractice must be held accountable.
By: Sammi Wiafe
