Rita Rudaini Questions Teachers Who Publicly Reveal Failing Students in WhatsApp Groups
KUALA LUMPUR: Actress Rita Rudaini has spoken out against the practice of publicly revealing the names of students who fail examinations in class WhatsApp groups, saying such actions may hurt students emotionally and undermine their self-confidence.
The issue surfaced after a discussion on Threads asked whether it was appropriate for teachers to share the names of students who performed poorly in exams as a way to motivate them and encourage better academic results.
Responding to the topic, Rita said that while teachers may have good intentions, publicly exposing students’ failures could have unintended consequences that affect not only the children involved but also their parents.
According to the actress, academic performance is a private matter that should be communicated directly to parents rather than being shared openly with a larger group.
“There is no need to list the names of students who failed in a WhatsApp group. I honestly do not see the benefit of doing that.
“In a WhatsApp group, there are all kinds of people with different mindsets. Eventually, people will start making assumptions and talking about other people’s children,” she wrote on Threads.
Rita said such actions could create embarrassment for students and place emotional pressure on parents who may feel judged by others.
She noted that public disclosure could also lead to comparisons among children, causing students with weaker academic performance to feel inferior or isolated.
“When a child’s name is openly displayed, people begin talking.
“Some compare their own children with others, while some may turn it into gossip. Once the child hears about it, the emotional impact can be far greater than what adults imagine,” she said.
The actress stressed that teachers should adopt more thoughtful approaches when dealing with students’ academic performance, especially because every child learns at a different pace and has different strengths.
She believes there are many ways to motivate students without exposing their weaknesses to others.
“If teachers want to discuss academic results, they can do so privately.
“They can contact parents personally or arrange a private discussion. That is far more respectful and considerate,” she said.
Rita also highlighted the growing concern surrounding mental health among children and teenagers, saying that educators, parents and society all have a role to play in creating a supportive environment.
She pointed out that children today face pressures that previous generations did not have to deal with, including academic competition and the influence of social media.
“Children today are already under a lot of pressure.
“We should not add more by doing things that may damage their confidence and emotional well-being,” she said.
Rita emphasised that children need encouragement and support, especially when they experience setbacks or failures.
“Failure should be treated as a learning process, not something that becomes a source of humiliation.
“We should help them stand up again, not make them feel smaller,” she added.
In a separate post, Rita urged people to avoid making quick judgments when an issue does not affect them personally.
She said many people are quick to offer opinions when the situation involves someone else’s child, but their reactions often change when their own children face the same circumstances.
“Sometimes when it is not your own child, it is easy to say many things.
“But when it happens to your own family, you begin to understand the pain and frustration parents feel,” she said.
Rita called on society to practise greater empathy and to place themselves in the shoes of others before defending or criticising certain actions.
According to her, education is not only about achieving excellent grades but also about nurturing confidence, character and emotional resilience.
“Children are not machines that must always succeed.
“They need support, appreciation and the opportunity to learn from their mistakes without being embarrassed in front of others,” she said.
