Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has said it has engaged education authorities on the need to introduce digital citizenship and digital literacy studies in primary schools.
Macra Director General Daud Suleman said this in Lilongwe Tuesday as Malawi celebrates Safer Internet Day under the theme ‘Inspiring Change: Making a Difference, Managing Influence and Navigating Change Online’.
He said in secondary school, authorities would like to include computer programming in the curriculum.
According to Suleman, digital literacy is an important entitlement for all young people in an increasingly digital culture while cyber hygiene will equip children with the right tools and information for navigating the digital space safely and securely.
Safe Internet Day aims to raise awareness on emerging cyber safety issues and stakeholders choose a topic that reflects current concerns that range from cyberbullying, social networking, cyber hygiene, misinformation, digital identity, cyber flashing and tips meant to keep all people safe online.
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Suleman said the digital world has no borders and that, to ensure a conducive digital space for all people, especially for young users, there is a need for multi-stakeholder collaboration.
“As part of our commitment to ensuring child online safety in Malawi, Macra, with technical assistance from the International Telecommunication Union, developed a National Child Online Protection Strategy that is running from 2023 to 2028.
“The overall goal of the strategy is to provide safe cyberspace and prevent all potential threats and harm that children encounter online and respond to those affected. The strategy ensures that all children in Malawi are safe and empowered in the digital environment while providing a safe, secure, adaptable, child-friendly and inclusive digital environment,” Suleman said.
Malawi Police Head of Digital Forensics and Cybercrimes Unit Gabriel Kubwalo said the unit is receiving increased cases of cybercrime committed online, mostly involving women.
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Kubwalo said law enforcers are doing a lot, including conducting sensitisation campaigns on how the youth can stay safe online.
He added that the unit, through the Malawi Police Service website, also posts tips on how to stay safe online.
