- TSC has issued an advisory clarifying that teachers are not barred from social media but must observe professional and legal boundaries online.
- TSC has identified cyberbullying, hate speech, threats, sexual misconduct involving learners, and impersonation as high-risk or prohibited online conduct.
- Collins Oyuu has called on TSC to clarify that the advisory targets misuse rather than legitimate expression.
TSC’s advisory does not prohibit teachers from using social media. The distinction lies between legitimate online expression, professional misconduct, and conduct that may attract legal consequences.
A recent advisory from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has renewed scrutiny of teachers’ use of social media. The message, however, is not that teachers must avoid platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, X, Instagram, or YouTube — the focus is on how these platforms are used.
TSC has reiterated that constitutional freedom of expression exists alongside professional obligations and other applicable laws governing digital conduct. The Commission notes that online behaviour amounting to cyberbullying, harassment, intimidation, dissemination of offensive material, or other forms of unprofessional conduct may attract disciplinary action and, depending on the circumstances, legal consequences. Not every controversial post by a teacher is unlawful, and not every online disagreement constitutes a disciplinary offence — teachers remain citizens with constitutional rights, but they are also members of a regulated profession governed by the TSC Code of Conduct and Ethics.
What a Teacher Can Lawfully Do Online
Teachers may use digital platforms for educational purposes — creating instructional videos, discussing pedagogical approaches, sharing publicly available resources, and promoting digital literacy among learners. In this sense, social media can serve as a valuable extension of the classroom.
Teachers also do not forfeit their constitutional right to freedom of expression by virtue of their profession. Article 33 of the Constitution protects freedom of expression, subject to lawful limitations including restrictions on hate speech, incitement to violence, propaganda for war, and advocacy of hatred — boundaries TSC has specifically reminded teachers of. Teachers may therefore participate in public discourse on education, the economy, public services, and other matters of public interest, provided they rely on verifiable facts, clearly distinguish opinion from fact, and avoid language that is threatening, degrading, or inciting. The mere fact that an opinion is unpopular or disputed does not, on its own, amount to misconduct.
Teachers may also share authentic communications from government institutions, including TSC, the Ministry of Education, and schools, provided the information is accurate and does not violate confidentiality or other legal restrictions — verifying authenticity before forwarding anything purported to originate from TSC. Professional networking is similarly permitted, with teachers free to participate in professional groups and exchange teaching experiences online, provided such engagement is not replaced by harassment, misinformation, or disclosure of confidential information.
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What Can Cross the Line
TSC has explicitly identified cyberbullying and online harassment as prohibited conduct, covering the use of digital platforms to threaten, intimidate, humiliate, or harm another person — including targeted abusive messages, malicious falsehoods, or publication of private images intended to cause distress. A disagreement is one thing; a deliberate effort to humiliate or intimidate another person is entirely different.
Freedom of expression does not extend to unlawful speech. TSC has reminded teachers that constitutional protections do not cover incitement to violence, hate speech, advocacy of hatred, ethnic incitement, or discriminatory expression, requiring heightened caution on politically, ethnically, or socially sensitive issues. Online threats and intimidation should also not be treated lightly simply because they are made through digital platforms, as such communications may be used as evidence in disciplinary or legal proceedings.
Teachers are entrusted with sensitive information relating to learners, parents, and colleagues, and unauthorised publication of private data, images, or records may raise serious ethical, professional, and legal concerns — the fact that information is accessible does not automatically make its publication lawful. Most serious of all is sexually inappropriate communication with learners: teachers are required to maintain strictly professional relationships with learners both offline and online, and any inappropriate or unlawful communication of a sexual nature involving learners is strictly prohibited and may amount to gross misconduct and criminal liability. Related to this, teachers are expected to comply with strict standards regarding pornographic or obscene material, particularly where such content could be shared with, exposed to, or accessed by learners.
TSC has also warned against knowingly presenting false information as fact, especially when communicating about the Commission, schools, examinations, colleagues, learners, or government programmes, and against impersonating TSC or school officials by presenting personal accounts or communications in a manner that falsely suggests official endorsement.
Social media boundaries for teachers: What you need to know to stay out of trouble
Political Neutrality and Criticism of Government
The TSC Code requires teachers to maintain political neutrality, restricting conduct that may compromise, or appear to compromise, that neutrality, including acting as agents of political parties or candidates, promoting partisan interests, or publicly manifesting support or opposition during elections in a manner inconsistent with professional obligations. This does not mean all political discussion is prohibited — the key distinction lies between engaging in public policy discourse and participating in partisan political activity in violation of professional standards.
Similarly, a teacher does not commit an offence merely by expressing disagreement with government policy, questioning administrative decisions, or offering opinions on education-related matters, provided such expression remains lawful, responsible, and relies on verifiable information rather than blurring fact, opinion, and allegation. This distinction matters, especially as teachers’ unions have urged TSC to clarify that the directive targets misuse of social media rather than legitimate expression online. KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu has similarly called for greater clarity to ensure that responsible digital engagement is not mischaracterised as misconduct.
Private Accounts Are Not a Shield
A common misconception is that a private account exempts a teacher from professional or legal obligations. The TSC Code provides that both public and private conduct must uphold the dignity and integrity of the teaching profession. This does not mean TSC regulates every aspect of a teacher’s private life — rather, where conduct falls within the scope of professional or legal standards, its online or private nature does not eliminate accountability.
Before posting, commenting, forwarding, or sharing, teachers are encouraged to ask: Is it true? Is it lawful? Is it professional? Does it respect privacy and dignity? Would I be comfortable defending it in an official inquiry? If any answer raises concern, it may be prudent to refrain from posting.
The Bottom Line
TSC’s advisory should not be interpreted as a blanket restriction on teachers’ use of social media, but as underscoring the responsibilities that accompany digital communication. Permitted conduct includes educational content, professional engagement, responsible public discourse, verified information sharing, and lawful expression. Prohibited or high-risk conduct includes cyberbullying, threats, harassment, hate speech, incitement, deliberate misinformation, unlawful disclosure of private information, inappropriate communication involving learners, impersonation, and conduct that violates the TSC Code of Conduct.
TSC warns teachers against cyberbullying, harassment on social media
Professional discipline is distinct from criminal liability — conduct may give rise to professional, legal, or both forms of accountability, depending on the circumstances. For teachers, the key takeaway is that social media itself is not the problem; its misuse is. As digital platforms continue to shape education and public discourse, teachers can remain active online, provided they uphold the same standards of professionalism, accuracy, restraint, and respect expected in the classroom.
By Hillary Muhalya
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