State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj on Tuesday said that instead of fearing the advancement of digital technology, the next generation should be built through safe and responsible use of technology.
“Advancement of technology is an ongoing process, Therefore, instead of keeping children and adolescents away from technology, we must prepare them for the future by teaching them its proper use,” he said.
He made the remarks while addressing as the chief guest at a national learning exchange programme on Digital Gender Norms (Gender-Based Social Norms in the Digital Space), organised by BBC Media Action at a hotel in the capital, said a press release.
The state minister said although attempts were made to silence the people's voice by shutting down the internet during the July Mass Uprising of 2024, those efforts did not succeed.
He said experience proved that digital platforms have become an inseparable part of society, the state and citizens' lives. Therefore, he added, the most important task now is not to reject technology but to build the capacity to use it properly.
Mentioning that there is now a clear mismatch between technological advancement and the prevailing social and cultural values, he said to bridge this gap, the education sector, families, society and the state must work together.
He stressed the need to train children and adolescents on safe digital behaviour, information verification and online ethics.
Bobby Hajjaj said fake images, fake videos, character assassination and digital harassment on social media have reached an alarming level.
Women, adolescent girls and women politicians are the worst victims of such abuse. Therefore, he said, effective implementation of laws and policies is now essential to ensure accountability on digital platforms and protect children and women.
He said the government's objective is not to create unreasonable barriers in the use of technology but to establish a balance between freedom and security.
He, however, also expressed the opinion that effective regulation is necessary in some cases to ensure the safety of children and women in the current social context.
The state minister said the government is incorporating value-based education, digital safety, life skills, gender sensitivity and civic values as important components of the new primary education curriculum.
He said coordinated efforts are underway with local and foreign experts and various development partners, including UNESCO, to achieve this goal.
He said the new education system includes plans to gradually introduce interactive digital classroom facilities, provide tablets to teachers and, in the future, education-friendly digital devices to students to bring both teachers and learners under technology-based education.
Bobby Hajjaj said ensuring the safe development of children is not only the responsibility of parents but also the responsibility of society as a whole. To this end, community engagement is being strengthened at primary schools.
Guardian committees have already been formed to oversee the school meal programme, while initiatives have also been taken to involve parents and local communities in other areas of the education system, he added.
Addressing development partners as well as international and national NGOs, he said the government is ready to adopt and expand any initiative that proves effective for students. "Our ministry is now working under an open-door policy. Bring us effective initiatives, and we will evaluate them and try to implement them on a larger scale," he said.
Referring to women's empowerment, the state minister said establishing women's leadership requires more than slogans. Equal opportunities, equal rights, a safe environment and self-confidence must be ensured from childhood.
He said the foundation for this transformation must be built in educational institutions.