As one way of protecting children from internet threats, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), through its Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), has trained teachers in child online protection.
Speaking during the opening ceremony in Blantyre, Head of Malawi CERT at MACRA, Christopher Banda, said they recognised the critical role that educators play in safeguarding and shaping the minds of young people.
“In today’s interconnected world, children are increasingly exposed to online risks. This workshop aims to equip educators with the necessary tools and knowledge to train others in protecting our youth from online dangers,” he said.
Banda said online safety for young people was very important considering that the youths are the biggest users of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), making them targets of online threats.
“In this digital age, the youths like social media a lot, where they easily befriend people online that they don’t know. That is a danger; hence, they need to be extremely careful with whom they are talking to and what they communicate. It is very easy to be brainwashed or harmed. Issues of mobile money theft are a good example of being attacked in the internet space,” he explained.
He stressed that protecting children online was not just the responsibility of parents or guardians, but a collective effort that required the involvement of teachers, policymakers and the community.
Sister Evarista Kapwata, a teacher from Stella Maris in the South Western Education Division (SWED), said media literacy was important for both educators and students to create a safer online environment.
“The majority of the online users are young people. It is essential that we include topics about cybersecurity and internet threats in our teaching modules and engagements,” she said.
About 150 teachers from Shire Highlands Education Division (SHED) and SWED attended the trainer of trainers’ workshop, which covered aspects of child online protection, including recognising potential threats, implementing effective strategies and fostering open communication with students about their online experiences.
