Tanzanian College professor urges parents to teach internet laws
Professor Robert Mashenene advised parents to guide children on social media use and Artificial Intelligence for academic benefit.
Professor Robert Mashenene, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the College of Business Education (CBE) in Dar es Salaam, urged parents and guardians to educate secondary school students on social media usage laws at home. Mashenene stated that while giving modern phones to children is good, parents must inform them about the 'dos and don'ts' of social media. He made these remarks during the 26th form four graduation ceremony at Green Acres Schools in Dar es Salaam last weekend.
Mashenene also advised parents to involve children in household chores like cooking and assisting with family businesses. Jonathan Kasabila, the headteacher of Green Acres Secondary School, echoed this, stating parents should control and limit students' phone usage at home. Kasabila recommended that parents ensure their children have designated phone usage times and provide them with guidance on what to do and for how long.
The advice comes as schools grapple with how students use technology. Mashenene specifically mentioned guiding children on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for their studies. The call highlights a growing concern among educators about responsible digital citizenship among young Tanzanians.