Safer Internet Day 2014

Welcome to Safer Internet Day 2014

Safer Internet Day (SID) is an international education and awareness-raising effort spanning more than 100 countries around the globe to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people across the world.

Mauritius is among one of the very first countries where government has taken keen interest to protect children and youngsters on the Internet.  In this context, a Child Online Safety Action Plan was developed by the National Computer Board (NCB) and endorsed by the cabinet in 2009.  Following the aproval of the action plan, number of activities have been started on Child Online Safety since 2009 including organisation of the Safer Internet Day. 

This year is the 5th edition of Safer Internet Day which will be celebrated in Mauritius. On this occasion, CERT-MU, a division of the National Computer Board is organising several activities.  The activities are as follows: 

• A national level online quiz competition on Information Security will be organised for secondary school students (private and state) in the month of January 2014 and the winners will be awarded prizes on the occasion of Safer Internet Day 2014 workshop. The objective of the quiz is to assess the level of understanding students have on Internet security. The competition will also help in the promotion of the Information Security culture amongst the youth.

• A half day workshop with theme "Let's create a better Internet together" in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Communication and Telecommunication and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources.  The proposed workshop is targeted towards State and Private secondary school students to sensitise them on the impact of threats and consequences that improper use of the Internet may have on the youth.

• Awareness sessions on “Internet Safety” will be carried out for secondary school students (State and Private) in all four school zones of the country.  These sessions will highlight issues like sexting, sextortion, cyber bullying, online predators and identity theft etc. 

• Organisation of awareness sessions on “Dangers of the Internet” for secondary school teachers (State and Private) in all four school zones during the school holidays. Trainings on the Dangers of the Internet and how to help youngsters choose a better way of socialising in the virtual world will be organised for the teachers of  secondary schools.

• Awareness sessions for Parents, Senior Citizens and House Wives on "Secure Usage of Internet".  Parents, Grandparents and House Wives need to be aware of the dangers on the Internet and how to protect their kids online.  An awareness session will be organised to address this issue with parents, in collaboration with the PTA of secondary schools.  The Senior Citizens and House Wives sessions will take place in NCB cyber caravans and community welfare centres. 

• Dissemination of brochures on "Child Online Protection" to the students and teachers.