Children And Online Classes: All About NCPCR's Safety Advisory

With schools shutdown over the past few months due to the coronavirus pandemic, online classes have become the new 'normal'. An increasing number of children are spending a major chunk of their time in front of the computer. While the internet is undoubtedly an amazing platform that offers endless and exciting possibilities as far as learning is concerned, it has its cons as well.

However, this rise in online activity for the purpose of learning, has given rise to some fears and concerns regarding children's online safety. The valid concerns include cyber bullying, getting exposed to violent content, and becoming prey to online predators. Further, children do not hesitate to divulge important information such as their names, where they live, and which school they attend to strangers - putting themselves at risk.

Keeping all these points and more in mind, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued an advisory to all states instructing them to take proper precautions and adequate security measures with regards to online classes. The NCPCR has made it clear that the safety of children in the digital space is important and any kind of violation, abuse or harassment should be prevented.

"The schools/institutions should follow all the necessary safety measures given by the authorities from time to time," the NCPCR said in the advisory.

The advisory included important points related to children's safety and the role of parents. The same are discussed below in detail. Parents, do take heed!

NCPCR list of guidelines for the online safety of children

• Participation of children in virtual classrooms should be under parental supervision. Children are vulnerable to face problems when they access the online world without parental guidance.
• It is the sole responsibility of schools / educational institutions to provide a proper orientation to parents regarding their role when it comes to their children and online classes.
• The login ids should not be made or created using the name of the students. No important or sensitive information to be divulged online unless under supervision.
• The students should only attend the online classes as a guest and nothing more. Full control of the virtual classroom to be in the hands of the teacher only. This will ensure there is zero chance of students falling into virtual traps such as cyber bullying or abuse.
• Neglecting the safety and security of children in any manner will attract strict action against the school / educational institution under section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and other relevant sections of the law.
• Criteria for using a particular app for children to be adhered to strictly.

It is essential that parents supervise the activities of their children in the online world and ensure that their child's respective schools are taking necessary measures and orienting the parents accordingly. Even well-advised and informed children may fall prey to the dangers of the internet. With children taking online classes daily, it has become even more important than ever. Stay safe!

Also read: How to prepare your child for the digital world

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Written by Team ParentCircle on 26 June 2020.

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