Social Media Directive Set by DSHE for Teachers-Staff

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has instructed teachers, officers, and employees serving at government educational institutions to strictly comply with the Social Media Usage Guidelines for Government Institutions, 2019 (Revised Edition). According to the directorate, violating the guidelines constitutes a breach of the government employees' code of conduct and, in certain cases, may also pose a threat to national security.

The directive was issued through a letter sent to heads of educational institutions and other concerned authorities on Wednesday, July 29. A copy of the Social Media Usage Guidelines for Government Institutions, 2019 (Revised Edition) was attached with the letter.

In the letter, DSHE stated that compliance with the existing social media guidelines is mandatory for government employees. It noted that failure to follow the guidelines amounts to a violation of the code of conduct for public servants and may, in many cases, jeopardize national security. Such violations may also be treated as misconduct under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.

Accordingly, the directorate has once again instructed all offices under its jurisdiction, as well as teachers, officers, and employees of government educational institutions, to strictly adhere to the revised guidelines while using social media.

The guidelines state that all information, photographs, audio, and video content should be properly verified before being published on social media. Personal or family-related content must not be posted on official social media accounts. Government employees are also advised to refrain from posting, commenting on, liking, or sharing content that could undermine the image of the government or the state.

The guidelines further prohibit the publication of content that could undermine national unity, offend religious sentiments, promote political ideologies, or spread false, misleading, or provocative information.

Prohibited Activities

Government employees must not:

• Publish posts, comments, photographs, or videos that may damage the reputation of the state, the government, or important state institutions.
• Share or spread rumors, misinformation, or content that could disrupt national unity, communal harmony, law and order, or public safety.
• Like, share, comment on, or promote content encouraging anti-state activities, anti-independence narratives, extremism, terrorism, or violence.
• Disclose classified government information, official documents, confidential materials, or office-related information without authorization.
• Make comments on matters that are sub judice if such comments could influence judicial proceedings.
• Publish defamatory, abusive, or offensive remarks against the government, ministries, divisions, or other government institutions.
• Make insulting, hateful, or personally offensive remarks about colleagues, senior officials, or any individual.
• Participate in or express opinions on political parties, political campaigns, or controversial political activities using their official identity.
• Post content that could incite religious hatred, ethnic discrimination, or social division.
• Use copyrighted texts, photographs, or videos without authorization.
• Share fake news, misleading information, or unverified content.

Required Practices

Government employees are instructed to:

• Verify the accuracy of information before publishing it on social media.
• Follow the government employees' code of conduct even when expressing personal opinions.
• Demonstrate responsible behavior when using their official identity on social media.
• Obtain approval from the relevant authority before publishing official government information.
• Protect national interests, state security, and the reputation of public services.
• Use social media in compliance with the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, and other applicable laws.

Consequences of Violations

According to the DSHE directive, violating the social media guidelines may result in:

• Being considered a breach of the government employees' code of conduct.
• Being treated, in certain cases, as a threat to national security.
• Departmental disciplinary action under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, as an act of misconduct.

DSHE said the directive applies to all government secondary schools, colleges, teacher training institutions, and officers and employees working under the directorate, all of whom have been instructed to strictly comply with the Social Media Usage Guidelines for Government Institutions, 2019 (Revised Edition).

//DBTech/GN/SME/OR//