NAGRAT President Calls for National Policy on Student Mobile Phone Use, Labels Current Ban Ineffective

The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonou, has called on the government to implement a comprehensive national policy to regulate mobile phone use among senior high school students, arguing that the existing ban is no longer effective.

Speaking in an interview with Citi FM on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Mr. Carbonou emphasized the need to shift from outright prohibition to a more realistic and manageable approach.

“Mobile phones are already a part of student life in schools. Pretending they are not there doesn’t solve the problem,” he stated.

He cited instances from schools he had visited, noting the widespread, albeit covert, presence of phones. “At one school, over 98 percent of the students own phones. At another, students hide phones inside hollowed-out Bibles,” he recounted.

Currently, the Ghana Education Service (GES) enforces a strict ban on mobile phones in senior high schools, as outlined in its code of conduct. However, numerous reports suggest the rule is routinely violated, with students often finding creative ways to conceal their devices.

Mr. Carbonou believes that a well-structured national policy will enable schools to manage mobile phone use constructively—ensuring both academic integrity and student safety—while acknowledging the realities on the ground.

“It’s time to stop pretending and start managing,” he added.