MOE's Cooperation Crucial For Safe Internet Campaign In Schools – Teo

KENINGAU, July 14 (Bernama) -- The Communications Ministry hopes the Ministry of Education (MOE) will continue to support the Safe Internet Campaign (KIS) so that the programme can be carried out in schools as part of efforts to improve digital literacy among students.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said this was important as KIS educates both primary and secondary school students about internet safety, given its increasing usage today.

She said the campaign’s content is tailored to suit the students’ age levels — Level One for Years One to Three, and Level Two for Years Four to Six, as well as secondary schools.

“We are requesting cooperation from the MOE to allow us into schools so we can involve schools in educating students on how to stay safe online.

“For primary schools, KIS will carry out interactive activities to help them understand. They may not need too much exposure to issues like online gambling and scams, but cyberbullying is one of the key issues they might face,” she told reporters after attending the KIS programme at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pasir Puteh here today.

Teo said the KIS programme, launched on Jan 21, focuses on four areas — cyberbullying, online scams and gambling, child sexual exploitation, and data protection and digital literacy — and aims to reach over 10,000 educational institutions by the end of this year.

She said school students are also provided with information on child sexual exploitation, which is seen as one of the issues they may encounter.

A total of 344 schools nationwide are targeted to be involved in the KIS rollout from May to August this year, including 64 schools in Sabah.

“As of July 1, the programme has been implemented in 221 schools, involving 31,246 participants, comprising students, teachers and parents,” she said, adding that aside from schools, the campaign also receives support from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in developing engaging co-curricular activities.

Earlier, in a Facebook post, Teo shared that she attended the Mukim Luagan Community Outreach Programme organised by Pertubuhan Pelangi Harapan Sabah, in collaboration with various agencies, including the Keningau District Health Office, Social Security Organisation, National Anti-Drugs Agency and Keningau District Information Office.

“Health awareness is extremely important, especially with Malaysia expected to become an ageing nation by 2030. Grassroots outreach initiatives like this are among the best ways to ensure no one is left behind,” she said.

Pertubuhan Pelangi Harapan chairman Grelydia Gillod said the initiative aims to help the government disseminate information to local communities about what the MADANI government is doing for the people.

She expressed hope that more government agencies will take part in future programmes and share information about their respective roles in serving the public.

-- BERNAMA