Department of Children celebrates Safer Internet Day in Wa

Daily Graphic Education Feb - 10 - 2018 , 09:49

The Upper West Regional Directorate of the Department of Children under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has commemorated the Safer Internet Day (SID).

The department called on parents and guardians to help promote the safe and positive use of digital technology for children and young people in the region.

The 2018 slogan is: "Create, connect and share respect: A better Internet starts with you."

Forum for schoolchildren

Against this backdrop, the regional office of the Department of Children organised a one day forum at the St Aidan’s Anglican School Church in Wa to bring schoolchildren and Internet café operators up to speed on ways of using the Internet effectively.

Madam Latifa Abobo Saddique, the Regional Director of the Department of Children, said the programme was being organised nationwide to educate children on better ways of using the Internet.

“I will advise that we should all embrace the Internet such that we emphasise on the learning aspect that will actually enhance our development instead of attending to non beneficial activities such as watching pornographic materials.”

“So we should embrace all the good aspects that it has for us but neglect the negative aspect of the Internet so that we can develop as a nation,” she said.

Parents’ roles

Madam Latifa said there was the need for parents to play their watchdog role as their children used the Internet.

She said, “Parents should always be in touch with their children and monitor what the children do either with their phones, laptops or tablets. They should be involved in their children’s lives.”