The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed its affiliated schools to encourage students, teachers and parents to enrol in a 2.5-hour cyber hygiene certification course as part of a nationwide initiative to strengthen cyber safety awareness.

The initiative, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), aims to improve awareness of cybercrime and promote safe online practices. According to the CBSE, the growing use of digital platforms by children has increased their exposure to risks such as cyberbullying, online grooming, identity theft, online harassment and financial cyber fraud.

Schools have also been asked to establish cyber clubs and organise activities including quizzes, debates, speeches, poster-making competitions, pledge drives and awareness sessions on the first Wednesday of every month, observed as Cyber Jagrookta Diwas. The board has suggested integrating cyber safety awareness into annual school events, parent-teacher interactions and other campaigns.

CBSE has advised schools to circulate a cyber safety pledge for students and their parents, display cyber awareness advisories on parent portals, share the cybercrime awareness comic book prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs, encourage families to follow Cyberdost on social media and use interactive learning tools such as the cyber awareness Snake and Ladder game.

I4C Director Nishant Kumar said that schools play an important role in building a culture of cyber safety by reaching students, teachers and parents with awareness programmes.

Inputs from PTI

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