KUCHING: The use of social media by teachers in primary and secondary schools is highly encouraged as long as it does not violate the guidelines set by the Ministry of Education (MOE) or the State Education Department (JPN).
Director Datuk Dr Azhar Ahmad said that while the MOE, through JPN, had never restricted teachers from using social media, it must be used responsibly.
“For example, every month, we issue integrity information to teachers, and one of the topics we always emphasise is the responsible and moderate use of social media.
“Personally, I see no issue with teachers using social media because it is their right, their personal life, so it is up to them,” he said in an interview with Sarawak Tribune in conjunction with his retirement at his office today.
In fact, Azhar revealed that some teachers had been using social media to facilitate the learning process among their students.
“For example, at the MOE level, we even have a special award called the Digital Utilisation and Technology Award (DUTA), which is intended to recognise schools or teachers who use technology and digital tools for educational purposes.
“Sarawak ranks third best for the DUTA award, and from this, we can see that teachers and students are very active in using social media for learning purposes.
“So, to me, there is no problem with teachers using social media as long as it does not violate the established guidelines,” he explained.
He added that human resource development was crucial, especially in ensuring that the professionalism and abilities of teachers were continuously improved.
“Since Sarawak is a large state, it is challenging for us at the JPN to always be on the ground and see what is happening across the state.
“This is where I believe we should use our leverage and resources to develop the teachers, empower them, and provide support so that they can perform their tasks even better,” he added.
