South Africa’s Department of Basic Education is working on new guidelines to regulate communication between teachers and learners on WhatsApp as concerns grow over inappropriate interactions on the messaging platform.
One of the measures being considered is the use of official school WhatsApp channels, which could reduce the need for teachers and learners to communicate privately on the platform.
The department’s deputy director for social mobilisation and support services, Likho Bottoman, said the proposed guidelines would seek to establish clearer boundaries around how educators communicate with learners outside the classroom.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Bottoman said existing professional standards provide teachers with clear guidance on appropriate conduct in the classroom, but the rapid growth of technology has created new challenges that were not necessarily covered when many educators received their training.
She said digital platforms were inherently informal, which could make it more difficult to maintain accountability and ensure that appropriate boundaries are observed.
“As the Department of Basic Education, we recognise that the kind of teacher we have today is not a teacher who was prepared to use technological platforms to drive education practice,” Bottoman said.
She added that the department wanted to ensure that school-related WhatsApp communication was supported by clear structures and boundaries.
Despite the concerns, Bottoman said the department was not necessarily considering an outright ban on private WhatsApp conversations between teachers and learners.
She argued that such a measure could have unintended consequences, particularly for children who do not have access to adequate psychosocial support outside school.
She said even seemingly harmless material, such as a meme shared by a teacher, could leave learners uncertain about how they should respond when the content was inappropriate.
The department has been working with all nine provincial education departments on online safety initiatives aimed at helping teachers and learners recognise potential risks associated with digital communication.
According to Bottoman, the workshops are designed to ensure that children understand when an interaction has crossed a line and know where to turn when they encounter inappropriate behaviour online.
However, the department has stopped short of saying that private WhatsApp communication between teachers and learners should be completely prohibited.
Asked whether one-on-one conversations should be explicitly banned, Bottoman said the situation was more complicated and that a blanket prohibition could have unintended consequences for some children.
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The debate over WhatsApp communication in schools comes as concerns about children’s use of smartphones and social media continue to grow in South Africa.
Social media law expert Emma Sadleir has warned that young people can face legal consequences for what they post online, challenging the common assumption that children are protected from legal liability until they reach the age of 18.
Sadleir said children from the age of seven have civil capacity in South Africa, meaning they can sue or be sued with the assistance of an adult. She said this means parents should not assume that a child cannot face legal action simply because they are a minor.
From the age of 12, however, children can potentially be arrested and face criminal proceedings, depending on the circumstances and the applicable law.
Sadleir said parents and children should therefore be aware that social media activity can have consequences long before a person reaches adulthood.
She also raised concerns about the ability of younger children to understand the consequences of what they post online.
According to Sadleir, children between the ages of 10 and 14 are increasingly being exposed to highly inappropriate content through smartphones and social media, while their ability to make mature decisions in emotionally charged situations is still developing.
The warnings come as South African schools, parents and education authorities are faced with the growing role of smartphones and messaging platforms in children’s lives.
While digital communication has become an important tool for education and support, the department’s planned guidelines are expected to focus on creating clearer rules that protect learners while still allowing teachers to communicate with them when necessary.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
