A heated debate has erupted on social media over the growing practice by schools of creating WhatsApp groups where parents can receive announcements but are barred from responding, with critics describing the approach as authoritarian while others argue it helps keep communication orderly.
The discussion was triggered by a post from commentator Egesa Ronald Leonard, who accused some school administrators in Kampala of operating as “mini-dictators.”
According to Egesa, many schools add parents to WhatsApp groups but disable the ability for members to post messages, effectively turning the groups into one-way communication channels.
“They want to use WhatsApp as a one-way communication channel because they are scared of being given honest and raw feedback by their customers,” he wrote, adding that some schools “extort, manipulate and disenfranchise” parents.
His comments quickly generated widespread reactions from parents and members of the public, exposing differing views on how schools should engage with parents in the digital age.
One contributor, Culton Scovia Nakamya, shared a personal experience after objecting to compulsory Saturday classes for his nephew. Nakamya said she informed the school that the child would not attend because Saturday lessons were outside the Ministry of Education’s official timetable.
According to Nakamya, the school removed her from the parents’ WhatsApp group after she raised the concern. She maintained that pupils should only attend Saturday school if directed by the government, arguing that children have a right to rest on weekends.
Not everyone agreed that parents should be allowed unrestricted access to school WhatsApp groups.
Journalist James Onen (Fatboy) defended schools’ decision to restrict messaging, arguing that open groups often become dominated by unrelated complaints and personal disputes.
“I disagree. Some parents are drama addicts,” he wrote, suggesting that parents with individual concerns should communicate directly with school administrators instead of using group chats.
However, other users questioned the usefulness of a WhatsApp group that functions solely as a notice board.
“If parents cannot respond, why not simply use a broadcast list?” one commenter asked.
Another user argued that sending messages through a platform where recipients are unable to reply defeats the purpose of two-way communication.
Some participants also pointed to past experiences where open WhatsApp groups allegedly descended into inappropriate discussions, personal conflicts and off-topic conversations, prompting administrators to restrict posting privileges for everyone.
The online debate reflects a broader conversation about communication between schools and parents, balancing the need for efficient dissemination of information against parents’ expectations for transparency, accountability and meaningful engagement.
As more schools increasingly rely on digital platforms to communicate with families, the discussion highlights the challenge of finding a communication model that maintains order while still giving parents an opportunity to raise concerns and receive feedback.
Whether schools continue using announcement-only WhatsApp groups or adopt more interactive approaches, the conversation has underscored one central issue: parents want to be informed, but many also want to be heard.
