The Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) has warned teachers over their use of social media, saying it is taking a strict stance against derogatory remarks, disinformation and objectionable posts about the government, government institutions and government decisions on social media.
It has ordered that government primary-school teachers who use social media to damage the government’s image be identified and that departmental action be taken against them on an urgent basis.
The information was given in a directive issued by the administration branch of the Directorate of Primary Education on Thursday.
The directive said it was mandatory for all government employees to follow the Cabinet Division’s “Guidelines for the Use of Social Media in Government Institutions, 2019 (revised edition)” when using social media.
The directorate said some government primary-school teachers had recently been making posts and comments on social media that ran counter to the guidelines. The authorities believe such posts are harming the primary education system, government institutions and the government’s image.
The directive added that posting derogatory remarks, disinformation, misleading information or objectionable content against the government, government offices or government decisions on social media — and sharing such posts — also violated the government service code of conduct. Such acts would be treated as misconduct under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.
In line with directives from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, monitoring committees formed at the divisional, district and upazila levels to observe the activities of the teachers concerned have been told to become more active. The committees have been reminded to hold at least one meeting a month to review teachers’ social-media activity and take the necessary steps.
The directorate’s directive said departmental action must be taken quickly against teachers who use social media to make various derogatory remarks, spread disinformation and damage the government’s image.
Divisional deputy directors, district primary education officers and upazila or thana primary education officers have also been asked to send detailed reports of the steps taken to the directorate.
A letter signed by Directorate of Primary Education Director (Administration) Mahbuba Airin on the matter has been sent to all divisional deputy directors, district primary education officers, PTI superintendents and upazila and thana primary education officers in the country.
Those concerned believe the directive will play an important role in ensuring responsible conduct by government employees on social media and protecting the image of government institutions, and that it again stresses strict adherence to the existing code of conduct and the policy on social-media use for government employees.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report