IPOH: The Education Ministry is paying close attention to the risks faced by children in the digital age, particularly online exploitation and misuse of e-wallets, says Deputy Minister Wong Kah Woh.
He said it was inevitable that students are exposed to such issues, given the push for digital and ICT learning.
"To address this, the ministry has issued guidelines on the responsible use of tablets, both for teachers in the classroom and for students," he said after the groundbreaking ceremony for the Special Education Integrated Programme (PPKI) classroom at SJK (C) Chung Tack in Kg Simee here on Monday (Sept 29).
Wong said the ministry is also working to strengthen financial literacy and online safety awareness among students.
He said apart from classroom learning and guidance from teachers, the ministry collaborates with banks to conduct programmes aimed at equipping students with money management skills.
"This is part of a continuous educational process.
"Our goal is to ensure children grow up with a strong awareness of how to protect themselves and manage their finances responsibly," he added.
Wong was asked to comment on the battle against online child exploitation, with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) working with national and global authorities to protect young people.
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has also called for tighter safeguards on e-wallets to prevent misuse and untraceable online transactions involving children.
Meanwhile, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has said it is working closely with the Communications Ministry on curbing improper online usage by minors, especially involving obscene content, and ensuring that digital payment systems are not misused by minors.
