Parents will soon be able to download free software that can block inappropriate websites from their children, an education official said at a press briefing Friday.
Education Minister Wu Ching-ji said the offer to be valid from June 21 is part of the government’s efforts to protect youngsters from online pornography, violence or other unsuitable content.
“Taiwan has a good environment for e-learning, ” said Wu, who warned, however, that the Internet can also be a source of trouble for some children.
Wu said that misuse of the Internet can cause poor eyesight, poor friend choices, and even lawbreaking, and he encouraged parents to watch their children when they are using the computer.
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education (MOE) among some 56,773 students ranging from fourth grade to high school, high school students spend almost twice as much time surfing the Internet in the winter and summer vacations as they do during the school semester.
With more and more people worried about whether it is safe for children to use the Internet on their own, Dr. Chao Han-chieh, director of the MOE’s Computer Center, said busy parents who cannot accompany their children all the time can take advantage of the free software, called Network Guarding Angel (NGA).
With NGA, parents can monitor their children’s browsing history, block unsuitable websites, and set the amount of time their children can remain online, Chao said.
Saying that she will definitely use the free software, one mother of two told CNA after the briefing that she had already arranged some summer camps and outdoor activities for her children so that they will spend less time at home on the computer during the summer.
“I’ll be glad to have this software because it can help me keep an eye on what kind of websites they are surfing. And it’s free! ” she said. (By James Lee) ENDITEM/J
Source:http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?ID=201006180018&Type=aLIV
