1. WhatsApp Quote Introduction
The thread starts with a quote from a WhatsApp channel, mentioning a post circulating up social media stating schools would be closed for a three-day period from May 5th to May 7th, as part of the local government elections. This sparked investigation efforts, targetingglasma and Facebook.
2. The Misleading Post
The investigation revealed a post that claimed school closures were necessary to accommodate May 6 local government elections. The post was shared on platforms like Facebook, but revealed falsehoods to investigations, stating that only May 5 and 6 would see school closures and May 7 would signify reopening for other educational activities.
3. Social Media Posts)
Several social media posts were shared, including Facebook posts and an Instagram post, all pointing to the same misinformation. These posts were widely disseminated to highlight the closure of schools, ignoring the information about May 6 elections.
4. Media’s Denial and the Ministry’s Response
A news article from Dinamina further substantiated the misinformation, detailing that schools were to be closed for the elections. However, the Ministry of Education confirmed that only May 5 and 6 would include school closures, with May 7 being the last day to reopen public schools. The Ministry later published a list of schools to open on May 7.
5. Acceptance by the Ministry
Despite the post’s direct assertion, the Ministry of Education’ denied it, confirming that only the specified days of closure and May 7 opening would be effective. The post remains classified as false.
6. The Misleading Nature of the Post
The investigation led to the conclusion that while the statement was false, acknowledging that some schools were to be reopened on May 7 provided a necessary insight to emergency planning and stakeholder reintegration. The post was seen as misleading, highlighting the importance of verifying such claims.