Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) has clarified a widely circulated message advising students not to post about GE2020 on their social media accounts.

In a statement sent to Mothership, a HCI spokesperson said the school's position was that social media was not a "suitable platform for students to be discussing their views on national issues, especially during an election period".

"Students’ posts could be screen-captured, taken out of context and circulated further, even if the original posts were published in their private accounts. Such digital footprints could remain even if the posts were removed."

Original message sparks criticism

The original message, which appears to have been posted on its Integrated e-Message Board (i-EMB), asked JC1 and JC2 students of the school to "refrain from posting or re-posting... anything pertaining to the Singapore General Elections (sic) 2020”.

The students were advised not to post (or re-post) any kind of message on their "private social media platforms", as well as "any social media platforms associated with the school", such as those used for CCAs or other school activities.

While the message did not state whether any action would be taken if students failed to heed the advisory, it included "[Discipline]" in the subject header.

Here is a screenshot of it that has been circulating on social media:

The message has garnered flak online, with local activist and writer Kirsten Han among its critics.

"What does it do to our society when young Singaporeans are openly warned away from politics as if it's something dangerous to be afraid of?" she wrote.

A petition has also been started calling on the school to withdraw its message.

Engage actively in discussion, albeit in a safe environment

However, according to HCI's spokesperson, this was not the school's intention.

"We certainly do not want our students to be apathetic regarding national issues. But because of their youth, we also do not want them to be inadvertently embroiled in agendas beyond their control."

The school's statement wrote that students were encouraged to "engage actively in discussions and event debates, in a safe environment".

The spokesperson also pointed to activities that the school held which sought to increase student awareness of national issues.

These included regular student-led dialogues and robust discussions on national and civic matters during General Paper lessons.

"We see it as part of our responsibility to educate students on national issues so that they grow to become informed citizens," the spokesperson said.

Mothership understands that HCI's clarification has been disseminated to students via the school's internal messaging board.

HCI's statement

Here is HCI's statement in full:

At Hwa Chong Institution, it is important to us that our students are engaged in society and in public life. We see it as part of our responsibility to educate students on national issues so that they grow to become informed citizens. For example, the school‘s Student National Education Council (SNEC), which seeks to enhance civic-mindedness and the understanding of national issues, conducts regular student-led dialogues and other activities. During General Paper lessons, robust discussions on national and civic matters also take place often.

We certainly do not want our students to be apathetic regarding national issues. But because of their youth, we also do not want them to be inadvertently embroiled in agendas beyond their control. Our intention is not to silence students’ voices, nor to curb their interest in national issues. Instead, we encourage our students to engage actively in discussions and even debates on national issues, in a safe environment.

The platforms used and the timing for such discourse are important considerations. It is the school’s position that social media is not a suitable platform for students to be discussing their views on national issues, especially during an election period. Students’ posts could be screen-captured, taken out of context and circulated further, even if the original posts were published in their private accounts. Such digital footprints could remain even if the posts were removed.

Therefore, the advice we have given our students serves to remind them of the importance of exercising care and sensitivity on all social media platforms, even on their own private accounts, given the public nature of social media.

Top image by Quince Pan via Wikimedia Commons