School directors call for high-tech exam security to combat hidden AI devices

Portuguese school directors are calling for new surveillance methods to prevent cheating in national exams, warning that increasingly sophisticated technology is outpacing traditional monitoring systems.

President of ANDAEP, the National Association of Directors of Public School Clusters and Schools, Filinto Lima, explains that current exam invigilation methods have changed little in decades despite the rapid evolution of devices that can be used to outwit them.

“How do we supervise students during exams today? In the same way we did in the last century,” Lima said in an interview for the Lusa Extra podcast, due to be released on Saturday.

While mobile phones, smartwatches and other electronic communication devices are banned from examination rooms, Lima warned that a growing range of almost undetectable technologies could evade traditional checks.

These include communication-enabled earrings, AI-powered smart pens and smart glasses capable of displaying answers while students are completing exam questions.

Lima said he is not aware of any cases of technology-assisted fraud during the first phase of this year’s secondary school national exams, which began on Tuesday and run until June 26. But, he notes that other countries have already introduced additional safeguards.

In neighbouring Spain, for example, electronic detectors are used at exam room entrances to identify unauthorised devices.

“We need to take this into account because students who resort to this type of fraud gain an advantage, and that is unfair,” he said, stressing that even marginal differences in grades can determine admission to university courses.

The comments come as Portugal undertakes its largest-ever digital examination marking operation.

Around 300,000 exam papers will be scanned and digitally distributed for correction after students complete them by hand. Different sections of the same exam may be marked by different teachers, a system intended to improve consistency and fairness.

Exam scripts will be transported to the facilities of the National Printing Office (INCM) for digitisation, with more than 5,000 officers from the PSP and GNR involved in security and logistics operations.

The system follows a successful pilot project involving around 20,000 Philosophy exam papers last year.

Lima acknowledged that digitising millions of pages carries risks and represents a major responsibility for the Ministry of Education, but said the reform could reduce appeals and improve confidence in grading.

This year’s national examination process involves approximately 166,000 secondary school students across Portugal.

Lima has also praised teachers who voluntarily provide extra tuition during the exam season.

“Although they are not obliged to do so, many teachers make themselves available throughout the week, often for several hours a day, giving classes free of charge because they want their students to achieve the best possible results,” he said.

EXAM ANXIETY DRIVES DEMAND FOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS

School directors are also calling for more psychologists and specialist support staff, warning that demand for mental health support rises sharply during exam periods.

According to Filinto Lima, students frequently seek help from school psychologists to learn techniques for managing anxiety, stress and exam-related pressure.

However, existing resources are often stretched.

“Sometimes they are not enough,” he said, arguing for the recruitment of more psychologists, social educators, social workers and other specialised professionals.

Lima said these specialists play an important role throughout the school year, working alongside teachers and school management teams to promote student wellbeing and academic success.

Source: Executive Digest with Lusa