Kenya’s new education system is more hands-on compared to the previous one. It includes more practical and activities. The Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is the new system, though it has been in place for over five years. CBC replaced the 8-4-4 system, which was more focused on textbooks and did not adequately address individual talents or the needs of special learners, unlike CBC.

With the CBC system, children interact with gadgets frequently, including phones, computers, and laptops. They primarily use these devices to assist with assignments, research school projects, and complete homework.

However, there are significant risks involved, especially since many children use these gadgets unsupervised by parents or guardians. This poses a serious concern, particularly now that harmful content is easily accessible on the internet. If left unchecked, this issue could escalate into a much larger problem.

This challenge does not only affect privileged children but also those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This is one of the key challenges I want to highlight in this write-up.

Many children from disadvantaged backgrounds face significant challenges, including not having access to proper meals. For many, owning a smartphone is just a dream, let alone a computer. This leaves them with limited options, such as using public cyber cafes where they pay to use computers with internet access. Charges are usually based on the time spent browsing.

Some cyber cafes offer packages where, for about 20 shillings, users can get internet access on their phones for the entire day. Parents who own a smartphone or can afford to buy one for their children often send them to cyber cafes. Those who cannot afford phones simply give their children money to go to cyber cafes and research school projects.

I have been using public cyber cafes for a long time, especially during periods when I couldn’t afford a laptop and internet data was expensive. Because of this, I am familiar with the rules and how to conduct yourself while using these public facilities. One important rule, among others, is NO PORNOGRAPHY.

Unfortunately, many of our children watch pornography in cyber cafes while their parents are at home or work, believing their kids are doing research for school projects.

In reality, these children are addicted to pornography due to limited supervision, and the situation is made even more difficult because some of them have private phones.

The first time I came across this issue was when I noticed a few kids giggling in the corner, their faces filled with excitement. What caught my attention even more was the search history on one of the computers they had been using. It made me wonder what was really happening.

I raised the issue with the attendant, who admitted that it was one of the major challenges he faced. With children coming in with their own phones, and with him being busy attending to other customers, it had become difficult to monitor what they were accessing online.

I then took it upon myself to visit different cyber cafés in my neighborhood, and I was dumbfounded by what I discovered. Many children were watching pornographic content in these spaces.

Recommendation

I recommend that parents who give their children phones for school projects should ensure that robust security features are installed to block access to dangerous websites.

Additionally, they should collaborate with cyber attendants to monitor their child’s online activity, especially when visiting cyber cafes, by reviewing their search history.

Cyber attendants should designate specific computers exclusively for children, equipped with security measures that prevent access to harmful content. They must remain vigilant when children are present, actively supervising their online activities. If necessary, attendants should walk around to closely monitor what children are searching to ensure their safety.

Written by Olwa