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Uttar Pradesh government: To improve schoolchildren’s digital safety, the Uttar Pradesh government has launched its largest cybersecurity program to date. Additional Chief Secretary (Basic and Secondary Education) Parth Sarathi Sen Sharma has asked all school inspectors to guarantee the required implementation of cybersecurity rules, training sessions, and awareness initiatives in every secondary school by December 15.

The department has emphasized the need of teaching parents, teachers, and students safe online conduct in light of the growing dependence on social media, the internet, smart classrooms, and ICT laboratories.

The PDF and link to the cybersecurity instructions will be shared by officials among principals from government, assisted, and self-financed schools in their WhatsApp groups. Schools must also put the rules on their website for easy access to students and parents.

Every secondary school in the district will participate in an online meeting to go over every element of the rules. Following this, every school will create a cybersecurity action plan that includes training programs, classroom instruction, contests, and awareness-raising events. Principals have been directed to conduct special cybersecurity-focused classes and provide the recommendations to all instructors.

Through morning assemblies, essay and poster competitions, smart courses, and ICT lab exercises, students will learn online safety guidelines. The Cyber Helpline 1930 and the “Stay Alert, Stay Safe” poster must be clearly displayed in color on notice boards and in staff areas at schools.

In order to engage parents, schools will send out the recommendations via email and WhatsApp and have targeted conversations about social media hazards, online fraud, and responsible cellphone use during PTMs.

Students will take part in a number of interesting events, such as a call-fraud role-play, a red flag bingo game, an AI awareness session, a poster/meme competition on cyber safety, and a Digital Detox Day, when they will avoid social media and engage in offline activities.

A Cybersecurity Nodal Teacher will be assigned by each secondary school to oversee all cybersecurity-related operations, keep track of documentation, and assist pupils. Schools will have to host poster competitions, essay writing, short video production, story writing, cyber hygiene initiatives, and awareness workshops for kids and seniors during Cyber Awareness Month.

The recommendations also cover complex subjects such as online radicalisation, hacktivism, cyber warfare, child-related mobile crimes, and cyber grooming. Strong passwords, updated browsers, reporting suspicious communications, carefully storing screenshots, avoiding sharing private photos, avoiding strange links, and not utilizing hacking tools are some important safety tips.
By December 15, schools are required to provide the Director General of School Education with a comprehensive compliance report including all action items.