Teachers in Punjab have been warned to stop using the social media

The Punjab government, in keeping with its previous policy of prohibiting government employees from using social media, has barred school teachers from using social networking platforms and directed them to avoid participating in the ongoing smear campaign against state institutions and siding with any political party.

The Punjab School Education Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) has issued directives on the usage of social media by government employees to all divisional directors (elementary education) and chief executive officers of District Education Authorities.

The Punjab School Education Department would take strong measures against the relevant instructors if there is a violation. On April 13, the DPI sent a letter to all education authorities advising them to keep an eye on their staff. Employees who disobey the orders will face disciplinary action from the department.

The Punjab government had already issued a notification in October 2021 prohibiting all of its employees from using social and traditional media, citing it as a violation of service norms. It went on to say that under the rules, no government employee may participate in any media platform without the government's express approval.

Official information or documents may not be shared with a government servant who is not authorised to receive them, a private person, or the press, according to Rule 18 of the service regulations.

The notification continues, "It has been observed that government employees frequently used social media websites and apps, such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, and others, to air their views on a variety of topics, occasionally engaging in actions or behaviours that did not conform to the required standards of official conduct, as outlined in the rules."

Educationist Dr. Pervaiz Hoodbhoy, on the other hand, slammed the prohibition on teachers using social media, claiming that the government would have to turn the country into a police state to enforce the restrictions.