PANJIM: Following allegations of many students misusing the cyber age scheme, the State government, after blocking access to inappropriate websites on laptops distributed to students, has now decided to cancel registration of the equipment if found to be illegally used.
Inviting applications for the scheme from higher secondary students, Director Education G P Bhat said the department will initiate strict action if the laptops are found to be misused. “The department shall not assume any obligation for any illegal use or violation of any provision of law in force by the student or the user of the equipment. Such use shall lead to cancellation of the registration and forfeiture of the equipment by the department,” the circular states.
“The equipment supplied shall be the property of the government for a period of one year from the date of supply and cannot be used for any commercial purpose or sold during the period,” Bhat said adding that the students have to deposit Rs 1000 as fees.
In a bid to avoid misuse, the department has directed the institution head to forward a photocopy of the attendance sheet of all students enrolled in Classes XI and XII.
A survey conducted by Rescue, a Karnataka-based association in 2014-15 had disclosed that 80 percent of college and higher secondary boys in Goa watch adult sites, 47 percent degree and under-graduate level students watch child porn and 40 percent watch rape porn regularly. The survey had also revealed that 50 percent of those watching adult videos end up watching violent porn sites.
Following this, Education Department had asked the State-run software provider Info Tech Corporation of Goa Limited to exclude such websites and instead allow access to educational websites only.
There were also complaints in regards to students renting out systems for commercial purposes, especially to non-Goans and foreigners. The last date for submission is October 7.
