Students call for digital literacy lessons in primary schools

Students representing the University of Fiji, the University of the South Pacific, and the Fiji National University have stressed the urgent need to teach digital literacy at a young age.

This was shared by the students during a panel discussion on the second day of National Scam Awareness week today at the Grand Pacific Hotel.

The FNU student President Rodney Vakaloloma says the curriculum should be included in primary school to help children understand how to behave responsibly online as Fiji rapidly embraces the digital world.

Speaking during a panel session Vakaloloma says many people lack proper online etiquette because such lessons were never taught by parents or teachers.

He added that while they learned to distinguish right from wrong on their own, this should not be left to chance for future generations.

The FNU student president also pointed to incidents of cyberbullying, such as the public attacks on individuals during the Hibiscus Festival, as evidence of Fiji’s increasingly toxic online environment, where people feel free to post hurtful comments without considering the consequences.

He is calling on the Government and relevant stakeholders to move swiftly to establish a digital literacy curriculum at the primary school level, ensuring that young Fijians grow up with the knowledge and discipline to navigate the online world responsibly.