Banned: Parents, teachers chat groups on WhatsApp

Manama : Education Ministry has banned parents and teachers’ chat groups on WhatsApp as it considers communication on the app “not a reliable alternative” for official communication channels.

A memo to this effect was recently circulated by the ministry among principals of public schools of both genders in the Kingdom.

Issued by Technical and General Education Assistant Undersecretary Lateefa Al Bonootha, the memo called upon the principals to rely on the direct and official communication channels with parents.

“With the start of the new school year and our recognition of the importance of communication between the administrative and educational bodies of school and parents to serve the educational process and follow-up on students’ affairs, all schools must adopt the methods and mechanisms of official communication in the first place, as the use of social media networks is not a substitute for it,” Al Bonootha mentioned in the memo.

She also stressed that nothing could replace direct communication with all relevant parties, in order to ensure that the message is received directly and unequivocally, as well as to ensure that there is no misunderstanding that may result from electronic communications and to ensure that some are not exposed to problems that may result from misunderstandings a message directed to any party.

The official memo came as parents and teachers have been communicating through social media applications, mainly WhatsApp, simultaneously with the advancement of communication technology in recent years.

However, the memo only addressed the principals of public schools and no mention of private schools was made. Yet, similar instructions may be issued by the Private and Continuous Education Department in the ministry.

 “There is no need to form social networking groups in schools after it turned out that during the past years problems have negatively affected the relationship between parents and schools,” Al Bonotha added in the memo.