FBC Lecturer Kamara Urges Ban on Mobile Phones in Schools Over Exam Malpractice
Alex Fefegula Harding Fourah Bay College lecturer Sheku Putka Kamara has called for restrictions on mobile phone use in schools and examination centres as part of efforts to curb examination malpractice in Sierra Leone.
Kamara made the call during a recent media interview, where he raised concerns about the circulation of examination questions on social media and questioned how confidential examination materials reach candidates before they sit their papers.
He argued that unrestricted access to mobile phones and messaging platforms creates opportunities for candidates to receive and share examination questions and answers, making it difficult to protect the integrity of public examinations.
The lecturer, however, stressed that students should not bear sole responsibility for examination malpractice, insisting that the institutions and individuals responsible for securing examination papers must also be held accountable.
Kamara said he had received examination questions before candidates sat their papers, including English Language questions allegedly circulated on the morning of examinations. He also cited instances in which questions reportedly appeared online before being changed, raising concerns about possible breaches of examination security.
He questioned how confidential examination materials could reach the public before examinations if adequate security measures were in place.
Kamara further raised concerns about the possible involvement of teachers, invigilators and other examination personnel in facilitating access to examination questions, calling for investigations into the channels through which unauthorised information reaches candidates.
He cautioned that banning or confiscating mobile phones alone might not eliminate malpractice if candidates could still access other devices or obtain answers from individuals outside examination centres. He therefore called for a broader approach that combines restrictions on phone use with stronger examination security and accountability.
The lecturer also questioned how examination authorities distinguish between genuine similarities in candidates’ answers and possible collusion, particularly in subjects such as Mathematics and English Language.
He warned that candidates who obtain examination passes without acquiring the required knowledge and skills could struggle at university, where they are expected to demonstrate their academic competence, particularly in writing and communication.
Kamara maintained that tackling examination malpractice requires collective action from education authorities, schools, examination personnel, parents and students, stressing that protecting the credibility of public examinations must be a shared responsibility.