"The private phone is not a service center": the new boundary set by the Teachers' Union

The Teachers' Union is tightening communication protocols with parents: routine contact will no longer take place via teachers' personal WhatsApp, but through professional and official channels. Union Secretary-General Yaffa Ben David emphasizes that the private phone is not a service center. The National Parents' Leadership opposes the move, warning of unnecessary tension and harm to the partnership dialogue.

The Teachers' Union is tightening its communication protocols with parents today (Tuesday), following the publication of a new director-general's circular regulating contact between parents and educational staff. The organization clarifies that routine contact with teaching staff should not be conducted via their personal WhatsApp, and that schools must establish professional and official communication channels, such as institutional email or another digital system. Union Secretary-General Yaffa Ben David stresses: "The private phone is not a service center, and the personal phone number is not a professional communication channel open to inquiries." According to her, parents should not be directed to a teacher's personal WhatsApp, nor should teachers be required to read or respond to messages through it. The organization views the circular as a first step in setting clear boundaries between teachers' personal and professional spheres. The National Parents' Leadership responded that attempts to dictate a single mode of communication create unnecessary tension and harm the partnership-based dialogue. Parents argue that forcing email-only communication does not suit on-the-ground needs and call on staff to continue fostering respectful, inclusive dialogue.