VietNamNet Bridge - The Chau Doc City Education & Training sub-Department. Educators is concerned about the negative impact of social networks on their students.

 

 

 

The city’s education sub-department on November 2 sent dispatches to the headmasters of the schools in the city, requesting the schools to strictly observe the two documents released by the Chau Doc City People’s Committee and the Information & Communication Department.

The two documents say social network users are strictly prohibited to make comments, like and share information which relates to policies, political issues, religions, reactionary activities and content which may affect others’ personal prestige.

The schools have requested students not to access social networks for personal purposes during office hours.

Nguyen Thi Hong Loan, head of the Chau Doc City education sub-department, said that the department does not prohibit students and teachers to use Facebook, saying that using social networks is a matter of individual liberty. However, Loan finds it necessary to remind Facebook users not to use Facebook for bad intentions and remain cautious when using the social network to avoid undesirable effects.

When asked if other education departments in An Giang province have instituted such a ban, a representative of the provincial education department said he did not have information about this.

Meanwhile, regarding Dispatch No 574, deputy director of the Information and Communication Department Tran Thanh Tam said the document aims to prevent the spread of false and distorted information which will not only affect the prestige of individuals and organizations, but also affect the implementation of state policies.

However, Lawyer Truong Thanh Duc from the Hanoi Bar Association noted that the document violates people’s freedom of speech and information, one of the people’s fundamental rights stipulated in the 2013 Constitution. 

“I believe that making comments and sharing information is the right every citizen has. Everyone has his right to express his viewpoint and this must not be prohibited by such a document,” Duc commented.

The lawyer went on to say that in case some individuals or organizations offend or insult others, they will be brought to court and punished by the laws. Meanwhile, it is not the job of local authorities to prohibit people to make comments.

Nguyen Van Tien, a lecturer of the HCM City Law School, commented that he cannot understand why the Chau Doc education sub-department prohibited students from commenting about the policies, once the State and policy makers always encourage people to show their opinions in order to be able to improve laws.

Phan Ngoc Nhan from the Dak Lak province Bar Association believes it is necessary to recall the document.

Kim Chi