Schools in the city have welcomed a Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) circular laying down guidelines for use of information technology in a safe environment.
Laying stress on awareness of Internet safety norms to prevent students’ falling prey to “cyber bullying, fraud, or something even more serious,” the circular calls for educating students on safe use of Internet, installing effective firewalls and filters in all computers, and controlling and monitoring the use of electronic communication devices on campuses.
The circular assumes significance in the wake of concerns over the online game Blue Whale Challenge that has been linked to several suicides. The issue had figured in the State Assembly even. Sebastian T. Joseph, Principal, St. Thomas Central School, said the circular was a good move, and the school would work to implement the guidelines. “Some of the things are already being implemented in the school. For instance, mobile phones are strictly banned on the campus. If found on a student, these are confiscated and returned only at the end of the session.”
Teachers’ supervision
Mr. Joseph said Internet access without teachers’ supervision was also disallowed.
Implementation of technical aspects would be done after discussion with the computer expert in the school, he said. “It has to be done as safety and welfare of students are paramount.”
The school was also educating students about safe use of the Internet by discussing it in the morning assembly.
Shahna Renjith, Principal, Navajeevan Bethany Vidyalaya, said in the wake of the controversial Blue Whale Challenge , it was necessary that schools ensure Internet safety.
Gadgets such as mobile phones were often sent to schools on parents’ insistence, but the school ensured these were not taken to class. Sensitising parents to Internet safety was imperative, she said, as children were more free at home than in schools where there was a lot of monitoring. “To get the desired results, it has to be joint effort on the part of schools and parents,” she said.
Kerala CBSE School Managements Association secretary Indira Rajan said the association would put forth a proposal to Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar in Kochi on Monday on starting student peer groups in schools to take the message of Internet safety to students.
“More than teachers, it is students who can educate other students about Internet safety.” She said classes should also be held for students by experts on cyber laws and safety. Parents too needed to be made aware of Internet safety.
