Many children have fallen prey to sexual predators via the Internet, but at the same time the Web is a means to boost children's knowledge and to expand their horizons. The Education Ministry, therefore, should not wait for police alone to tackle the issue.
At a recent meeting, local police in Chon Buri disclosed that Internetrelated child abuse was now common in Bang Lamung district and Pattaya.
Nongovernmental organisations said that in some cases the young victims were too innocent to know that they were being abused while in some other cases the abused children provided sexual favours for money they hoped to spend at Internet or gaming cafes.
Very often, their compromising pictures are also posted on foreignregistered websites.
Such a shocking fact has highlighted the serious need for relevant authorities to rethink their approach to familarising children with the Internet.
Of course, the Internet has enormous benefits. It is where children can search information from all over the world, get updates about everything from latest technology to new fashion trends, and connect with friends or families.
Via the Internet, children can also meet new friends and build their social networks.
So far, the use of the Internet comes with a risk. The risk is particularly high for children who have not been adequately warned about the Internet's dark side.
A large number of children playing games and surfing the net at Internet cafes or gaming parlours have now chatted with strangers they run into in chat rooms. Often, these strangers have become their friends and invited them to a place they could meet in.
Not all the people the children meet on the Internet are good. That's why so many children have ended up being sexual victims.
After attending the meeting with Child Protection Partnership (CPP) and International Institute for Child Rights and Development (http://www.iicrd.org/cpp), I thus have the strong opinion that, apart from Law enforcement, all schools must teach their students about the risks from the Internet.
I believe the Education Ministry can make a difference here.
If children learn about Internetrelated risks in their class, they will have better immunity against any enticement or seduction. By making a step to improve its ICT curriculum now, the Education Ministry will indeed be able to save our children.
The ICT curriculum must address much more than computer components, basic office software, multimedia tools and network applications. It should integrate the human aspects and social context too.
The students should be equipped with skills, attitudes and values that will allow them to use ICT without harming themselves.
The Education Ministry may also promote constructive online social networking in ICT classes.
If such social networks are strong, netizens will monitor websites and watch out for rogue people. If they detect anything suspicious, they can quickly spread the word and alert authorities.
Through this way, children will be acutely aware of existing risks and learn automatically how to protect themselves and others. In the end, Internetrelated crimes against children will decrease.
Let's hope that the Education Ministry will act soon and contribute to making the Internet safe for children.
Priyakorn Pusawiro
Learning scientist, Computer Engineering Dept, KMUTT
