Parents have been warned against allowing their children unfettered access to online sites in order to protect them from falling prey to online bullying.
Nyeri County Children Officer Kung’u Mwaniki says due to the long school vacations, many children especially those with access to smartphones, laptops and personal computers may take advantage of the free time to log into unsafe sites some of which may land them into online bullying.
Mwaniki has also advised parents and guardians to be on vigil over their children during the holidays as one way of minimizing the minors from falling into any form of abuse.
“Children should be under watch for 24 hours in a week even when they are going to the toilets, playing or going on errands. I must also point out something we are calling online sexual exploitation which can happen even in your own living room,” he said.
“You must monitor the content children are exposed to on social media when they take over that phone of yours, laptop or desk top because we have sex pests who are doing online bullying, identity theft and many other vices which are associated with online platforms,” he told KNA.
According to United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), skipping school is one common effect of cyberbullying that can affect the mental health of children who turn to substances like alcohol and drugs or violent behaviours to deal with their psychological and physical pain.
The aftermath of cyberbullying on mental health can vary depending on the medium through which it happens with bullying via text messaging or through pictures or videos on social media platforms being cited as very harmful to youngsters.
Mr Mwaniki has also called for an all-out war against abuse against children, noting that the government may not be in a position to eradicate the vice singlehandedly.
He noted that while remarkable milestones have been achieved in safeguarding children against various forms of violence such as physical, mental and sexual, much remains to be done within the county.
“Violence against children in Nyeri is prevalent and the vice is happening right from their homes, schools and even in places of worship. We have launched the 2019-2023 Violence against Children Report and we have sensitized stakeholders so that we are able to deal with this problem. Every stakeholder has a role to play. We need to create safe havens for our children,” he added.
The officer has also welcomed the move by the Ministry of Education calling for the abolition of boarding schools for learners in Grade 1 to 9 saying the move will enable parents to mentor their children before joining senior school.
Mwaniki acknowledged that while the decision may not augur well for many parents and education stakeholders, the move remains the most ideal in nurturing children before they can be left on their own.
“The best place for children is when they are with their parents. In as much as boarding schools are prestigious and doing well academically, let the children be under the supervision of their parents,” he insists.
Early this month, Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang’ announced that the government is planning to scrap boarding schools for students in Grades 1 to 9.
Speaking during the official opening ceremony of the 18th Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) in Mombasa on December 7, Dr Kipsang’ said that the move will allow children to engage better with their parents.
“As we move forward, day schooling will be the direction because that is the only way we shall be able to engage with our children. During the first years of our learning between grade 1 and 9, the direction the government will be taking is day schooling,” he said.
“We need to start socialising ourselves that we need to be with our children and the only way for that to happen is to be in the day school environment,” he added.
By Samuel Maina
