CBSE tells schools to up digital vigil

After the Blue Whale game claimed many teenagers in the country, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued guidelines to all the 18,000 affiliated schools on the safe use of digital technologies in the schools.

The board has warned of disciplinary action against schools for the unmonitored use of electronic communication devices in schools and school buses.

On their part, schools in the city have started counselling against the killer game. They also asked parents to keep a tab on children and their use of the internet and mobile phones.

B. Jyoti Aparna, principal of Bhavans Sri Rama Krishna Vidyalaya, Sainikpuri, said, “We have started counselling the students from class nine to 12. Tips are also given during the assembly sessions. Besides, we have roped in cyber crime experts and psychologists to counsel children.”

She warned, “Until and unless it is necessary parents should not give phones and iPads to kids. There is no need for a school-going kid to carry a mobile phone unless it is an emergency.”

The board has advised schools to educate students on the safe and effective use of the internet. Using the Internet without safety measures can lead to cyber bullying and fraud, the board further cautioned. Schools should discourage students from actions detrimental to themselves, their peers and the value system, the board guidelines noted. Schools are advised to take measures to pre-exempt any inappropriate activity through IT-enabled devices.

CBSE has also asked all schools to install effective filtering and monitoring software mechanisms in all computers and review regularly the filtering and blocking policies. To ensure safety of children, the board advised schools to restrict the use mobile phones.

The board further said, “If children use the internet without safety measures, they may fall prey to illegal activities. Awareness of the internet safety norms is indispensable to make children free to explore knowledge without feeling intimidated.”