The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has called for the extension of the ban on mobile phone use in examination halls to include teachers and invigilators.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the new National Education Inspectorate Board, the Minister stressed the need to strengthen examination integrity and curb cheating in schools.

“The idea of a student having access to phones in the examination room is a no-no. Probably, we have to even review this concept to include the usage of phones by examiners and supervisors,” he said.

According to Mr. Iddrisu, there have been instances where some invigilators may have aided students in cheating during examinations, and as such, stricter controls are necessary.

“In some instances of cheating, it may be some of them who are aiding the cheating; therefore, we have to limit who can carry a phone into an exam room,” he stated.

While acknowledging that some examiners may require phones for official communication, such as calling for exam papers or filing reports, he insisted that any allowance must be met with 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.