Bengal schools to have chapter on internet use
the backdrop against school children in West Bengal falling prey to deadly online Blue Whale challenge, the state government is planning to introduce a chapter on “responsible use of internet,” in schools.
“The state education department will consult the proposal with experts on what will be the contents of the chapter. If everything goes as per the plan, a new chapter will be introduced from the next academic year starting January,” a senior state government official said.
Until then the government will conduct workshops in schools counselling students on the danger of playing games such asBlue Whale either online or through mobile applications.
“Experts in the related field and psychologists among others will participate in these workshops. The students will be apprised of online or mobile applications they need to avoid, besides detailing on the severity of their influence,” said the official.
As per the instructions of state education minister Partha Chatterjee, the government is issuing instructions to all the schools to ban students from using cellphones during school hours.
“The government is determined to stop this menace called Blue Whale challenge. We expect the schools to cooperate with us,” Chatterjee said.
The government has also instructed all the district magistrates and district police superintendents to consider any report related to Blue Whale seriously.
“They have been instructed to take help of the state social welfare departments and NGOs to arrange for counseling of the Blue Whale victims. The cyber cells of both Kolkata and West Bengal police has been asked to be alert,” the official.
Already five cases of Blue Whale victims have been reported in West Bengal, which include a suspected gamerelated suicide.
Last month, Class 10 student from West Midnapore, Ankan Dey, died and his friends infomed police that he used to play Blue Whale on the internet.