JOIN USTamil Nadu to train students on busting misinformation & identifying 'hate news'
To help students distinguish between real and fake news, the Tamil Nadu government will observe an Awareness Week on Internet Safety at the launch of every academic year to provide necessary training to government school students on busting misinformation and identifying “hatred news.”
The announcement was made by School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi in the Assembly on Friday during his reply to the demand for grants of his department. Mahesh said it was imperative that students identify the authenticity of the news that they read and should be trained in busting fake news.
At the beginning of every academic year, starting 2023-2024, all government schools will observe on Awareness Week on busting and identifying misinformation and fake news. “Training will also be provided to teachers on this subject of Internet Safety,” the Minister added.
Mahesh said people of Tamil Nadu became aware about several issues after late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi launched the free TV scheme, but the same medium (television) was used to spread “wrong news” about the DMK, in an oblique reference to the 2G scam.
“It was Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) who introduced the Computer Science course in plus-two syllabus in 1998, and later he made the subject compulsory for classes six to ten. If Tamil Nadu youth have made it big in IT, it is because of the efforts taken by our government. But the same technology is now being used to spread fake and hate news,” the minister said.
He said while “fake news” or “misinformation” travels at “jet speed”, the news busting it travels at snail’s pace. “Our IT wing people are doing a great job, but the fake news problem is universal. So, we believe students should be given training on this important aspect,” the minister added.
The Awareness Week on Internet Safety will be observed at the start of the academic year.