The state’s Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) on Sunday published a cyber safety protocol wherein it specified guidelines for ensuring cyber security for students. The protocol originated after recommendations were made by the Committee for Welfare of Women, Transgenders, Children and Differently Abled under the state Legislative Assembly.
The protocol specifies instructions for institution heads, teachers, parents, and students.
In order to ensure safety, the protocol proposes various measures including secure password protection focussing on safe search methods, facilitating students and teachers with the availability of the Internet while monitoring their actions.
The protocol instructs institutions to conduct a cyber safety audit twice a year across the state.
K. Anvar Sadath, Vice Chairman and Executive Director of KITE announced the instructions to the teachers to browse the internet and download the content for enhancing digital teaching methods.
“Whenever Internet-based learning projects are assigned to students, teachers have to pre-check the website and only the secure portals have to be advised. Internet usage in schools has to be strictly restricted for learning activities, official purposes, and other learning/teaching related activities,” said Mr. Sadath.
The protocol specifies 11 activities to be performed as mandatory which include personal information and pictures not to be saved in public accessed computers, not to download information or contents from untrusted websites, mobile phones shall not be handed over to strangers, and personal information should not be shared using public machines through social media.
“The protocol also demands the parents to alert the concerned officers if they feel that their child has become a victim of cybercrime,” added Mr Sadath.