Safer Internet Day Marked In Wa

The Upper West Regional Directorate of Department of Children under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection on has commemorated 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."

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

Madam Latifa Abobo Saddique, the Regional Director of Department of Children, said the programme is being organised nationwide to help educate children appreciate better ways of using the internet to learn and make progress in life.

'I will advise that we should all embrace the internet such that we emphasize on the learning aspect that will actually enhance our development instead of attending to non beneficial activities like watching pornographic materials.'

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

Madam Latifa said there is the need for parents to play their watchdog role as their wards use 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 lives.'

Material resources made available to participants enjoined schoolchildren to be critical thinkers when they interact with the content provided on internet platforms.

Safer Internet Day is celebrated globally in February each year to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.