News
Teacher WhatsApp groups a headache for parents, children
View(s):By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe
WhatsApp groups created by teachers to inform parents about student progress and co-curricular activities should be banned, teacher unions and parents say.
Parents told the Sunday Times that messages getting through these WhatsApp groups often happen without proper time management, causing them significant mental stress.
Through talks with some parents and the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU), the parties pointed out that instead of teacher-created WhatsApp groups, it would be more appropriate to record the relevant notices in a separate communication book and send it to parents.
CTU Secretary Joseph Stalin pointed out that even UNESCO has emphasised that education should be conducted face-to-face. In that context, teachers creating WhatsApp groups has become a serious situation in the country, Mr Stalin said. He said fraud and irregularities in collecting money have also emerged in schools through these groups.
Parents expressed concern that WhatsApp groups could spread information meant for adults. Private messages, videos, adult content, and family matters, as well as even private matters of the teachers, could be shared.
Niluthpala Senanayake, a mother of a student at a well-known girls’ school in Colombo, said, “I do not approve of giving a schoolchild a mobile phone that contains highly private information of parents. Even if school matters come to the mother’s or father’s phone, due to busy schedules, parents do not check them frequently. Because of this, children get used to using their parents’ phones. This is dangerous. For example, using bank information, a child could withdraw money without the parents’ knowledge. This may lead to various vices. Highly private messages, photos, videos or household issues of parents could fall into children’s hands.
“Even if passwords are used, children who are familiar with new technology can easily find ways to access them. Therefore this is not a practical solution. Buying separate mobile phones for children is even more dangerous. Using technological knowledge, children may be drawn toward other unwanted activities. Since not every child has the same level of intelligence or maturity, parents must be very careful. But with their busy lives this is not practical. Some parents also have no knowledge about new technology. That is another problem. Although this system is continued for the convenience of teachers and parents.”
Muzammil Nadeer, the father of a student at a Muslim school in the Minuwangoda area, said messages sent by teachers even after midnight cause severe mental pressure on both parents and children.
“Sometimes messages are sent at 11:00p.m. or midnight asking to bring materials for subject activities the next day. Children become afraid if they fail to bring them. They will be scolded by teachers. At such times they even say they do not want to go to school.”
Madhuri Kuruppuarachchi, a mother of a student at a leading boys’ school in Colombo, said, “As the world develops rapidly in technology, it naturally spreads to every field. In Sri Lanka, the education system now largely operates through these new technological methods. In fact, most school activities now happen through WhatsApp groups. Classes, daily activities, and almost everything are communicated this way. With busy lifestyles, this is actually helpful. However, the updating methods are often weak. When teachers suddenly remember items students must bring the next day, they post them at night. If both parents are working, it becomes difficult to arrange things. I believe education integrated with new technology is good, but it must be implemented properly in a way that is convenient for students, parents and teachers.”
Regarding the impact of such situations on children’s minds, the Sunday Times also asked child psychologist and children’s book author Upul Guruge. He warned that such conditions can lead to the development of aggressive thoughts and behavioural changes in children. Alternatively, children may become unusually withdrawn and sleepy. He said both parents and teachers have a major responsibility in presenting mentally healthy children to society.
He said that after the coronavirus pandemic, a very strong relationship developed between children, parents, and mobile phones, and now the dangerous effects are clearly visible. Some children have become very difficult to separate from devices. Another issue is that some teachers, for their own convenience, have created various social media groups.
“Among these are messages asking students to bring items for schoolwork. But sending such messages late at night can create mental stress and fatigue in children. Some children remain engaged with these group messages even past midnight. Irregular sleep can severely affect both children’s education and their social lives. Due to the lack of a healthy mental state, children may show aggressive behaviour at school or become unusually drowsy. In both cases the child’s academic level may decline.
Modern psychologists and educationists also believe that to develop a well-balanced mind in children, they should be encouraged to engage with books, literature and arts and be guided away from excessive screen exposure.”
CTU Secretary Stalin alleged that money is being directly requested from parents for school activities through WhatsApp groups.
“The Ministry of Education has said not to collect money. But groups are formed within classes, and then money is directly requested to bank accounts. Earlier, schools openly asked for donations. Now this appears to be happening through WhatsApp groups. A circular must definitely be issued to stop these WhatsApp groups. This is a burden on people,” he said.
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