The Malta Communications Authority (MCA) has applied to the European Commission for funds to continue offering the Be Smart Online! initiative.
Be Smart Online! is co-funded by the Commission and is coordinated by the MCA on behalf of a consortium which includes the Foundation for Social Welfare Services and the Office of the Commissioner for Children.
MCA chairman Edward Woods said the authority was committed to this initiative: “If Malta is to truly become a digitally-enabled country, it is imperative to invest in the empowerment of children so that they may freely explore and exploit the opportunities available both from an education perspective and eventually those entrepreneurial.”
For the past four years, BeSmartOnline! has been the national flagship project set up to raise awareness and educate children and young people, parents and carers and educators on the safer use of the internet by children.
The project involves a number of different initiatives. Support is offered through the national Helpline 179. Within this past year, the helpline has received 145 calls directly related to the subject .
In close collaboration with the Cyber Crime Unit of the Malta Police Force, there was also a fight against illegal content, particularly online child sexual abuse, through the establishment of a hotline which allows the public to anonymously report such content. This reporting mechanism is available at www.childwebalert.gov.mt.
The Foundation for Social Welfare Services, particularly Aġenzija Appoġġ, coordinates the helpline and hotline.
Through collaboration with the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education, the Secretariat for Catholic Education and the Independent School Association, BeSmartOnline! also successfully organised an interactive lesson for 9,000 students in all Form 3 and Year 6 classes.
The Office of the Commissioner for Children was instrumental in coordinating tailored sessions for vulnerable groups and their respective carers. Around 600 teachers participated in training seminars addressed by both local and foreign experts.
Parents were also given the opportunity to attend sessions on digital parenting held at a number of local councils and schools.