Children and Young People
Jamie Hepburn MSP (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans exist to educate children on how to use the internet safely.
Maureen Watt MSP, Minister for Schools and Skills: The Scottish Government wants children and young people to make full use of the internet and is committed to ensuring that they are able to do so in a safe and responsible manner.
We continue to work with a number of agencies to raise children and young people’s awareness about how to "surf safely". Learning and Teaching Scotland provides advice on school policies for internet use and access and links to a number of websites that provide advice on internet safety. Respectme the national bullying service recently published advice on the use of the internet to prevent cyber bullying. Chatsafer, a Scottish Government information website, is a parental guide to safer chatting on the web. "Safe and Well" guidance, which issued to schools in 2005, includes good practice guidance on computer safety.
As part of our on-going commitment to protect children, the draft outcomes and experiences for technology, which will be published later this year as part of the work on the curriculum review, are likely to include opportunities for teachers to develop young people’s knowledge of safe and responsible use of the internet.
Source: The Scottish Parliament Written Answers 24 January 2008
Page Created: Thu, February 7th, 2008
Page Modified: Mon, March 17th, 2008
