Children Rights Advocate, Delia Cuffy- Weekes, said proper means of control should be placed on the tablet devices recently distributed to students in Dominica.
Currently every secondary school and college student are now equipped with tablets, courtesy of the government of Dominica ‘One Tablet Per Child Program’, and according to Cuffy-Weeks if they are not properly controlled, this is a cause for great concern.
Her comment came is in light of the recent circulation of series of explicit photos and videos depicting local teens which has been displayed on social media and smartphones.
“I am hoping that some sort of control would have been build into the tablets, meaning that they could have actually lock the tablets so that certain sites cannot be accessed,” she said. “If the tablets are given open as you would have gotten a tablet if you purchased it yourself, then that for me is a failure because it means that we know as well as the young people know that they are not going to use these tablets primarily for their education.”
She believes that the students will use the tablets to research things that they have been curious about and have never been able to find out about it.
“Now everybody has everything at their fingertips, children will spend more time playing games, children will spend time searching sites that they should not search,” she explained.
She is calling on parents to take responsibility for their children.
“I am aware of the fact that sometimes parents, we get things for our children that we ourselves do not know how they operate,” she remarked. “So you buy your child a smartphone, the child and the smartphone should not be smarter than you.”
Cuffy-Weekes said there are programs parents can install on the tablets to monitor which sites their children visit.
“As a responsible parent there are programs you can put on their tablets, on their laptops, on their phones for you to monitor which sites they go to,” she advised.
Have your On Child Nah, and stop watch Pple own Grow up and stop be a child!!!!!
In a class-room of thirty children we provide a room with thirty Computers installed. Wednesday is computer studies, each child sits before a computer and the teacher ensure they all are on the same screen and same channel. You gave the children a toy to take home why harassed them, take your toy back
We need to EDUCATE our children. Stop being hypocrites. Talk to them about SEX, and DEATH and RELIGION and all those things that we find so difficult to talk about. Human beings are curious by nature and trying to prohibit them from finding what they want will only make them even more curious. When it’s not given to them in a supervised way they will find other ways and end up in problems. This stupid taboo culture is what has us so behind. TALK to your children, build relationships with them and don’t be afraid to discuss mature stuff. Teach them how to manage and take charge of things so that they are instilled with a sense of responsibility. They will make mistakes no doubt but guaranteed it will all work out in the long run
Mrs weeks is right the first thing the child came up with is that the teacher sent homework to my tablet how I am to sa it’s a lie
This is the Worst thing that ever happened even if you refuse accept the tablet the rrsponse is “school work “
but is better the gave them coconut tablets then!
Since my son has his tablet, this is a mess a home. Even if i supervise, even i control all the time, even if i do my parent’s job, that’s a MESS !!! It is a very bad thing for children. Do they need a tablet for learning at school ??? no ! these tablets are a disaster, but most of people will see that… too late. I see that ALL children at school use the tablet at 90% for something else than school homework.
So many speeches were made for each distribution or two of the tablets, when one could have sufficed..
Interesting to note that the minister of education also said that “the labour party is working”, rather than “your government is working”, at least once. I was there, so I’d know. I wonder why though?
Kids are e need of libraries with computers and hi speed internet, to do research base on education, not tablets to play games. why brain wash the young more that their parents are already doing with their begging mentality and with all their politics and greed……Skerrit of all thing? nanana..guess their mamas and papas, will have to provide internet eh…gone are the days of chalk and slates…some parents no matter how much they hate Labour/Skeritt they still take pride in stretching out their hands tablet PLEASE….I bet you next school report card the teachers will get the blame…here goes the prime minister judges teachers etc of tomorrow.
Educate the children feed them with knowledge not provide them with the tools for destruction… RATION TABLET? big step up….shame…
The tablets should be examined and certain Websites blocked. If the students are allowed to keep the tablets in their room especially in the evenings, God knows what they will access. This is the concern of Cuffy-Weekes that they will access certain Websites which are inappropriate for them. It should be a grave concern to everyone especially parents, teachers and others in authority.
These days Dominica is becoming modernized with all sorts of technology as the rest of the world. Technology has its advantages but also has disadvantages, specifically for children as also older ones.
The primary purpose of the tablets are for assisting them educationally; not otherwise.
Be careful not to tarnish their minds. The Lord will not be pleased who do and encourage them, his little ones and cause them to sin and go down to the abyss, even as adults. Set a good pattern; not a bad one. God will also hold adults who contribute to this It is a matter to be taken seriously.
clearly we have an opportunity to leapfrog into the 21st century with on line learning programs .There are experiments in African and indeed the 1st world in the interactive virtual classrooms where on line programs are now available leading to high school and University graduating classes ….there are programs which responds to a curriculum which effectively responds to learning in holistic programs relevant to the needs for creating the new paradigm of educuation which facilitates job creation and development of the individual .
There are donors and a non profit agencies now availble and willing to connect by broadband for programs geared at virtual schools complete with text and information .
NOW IS OUR TIME to explore creat generate and relate to the expanding terriitory of cloud education
Maybe the Miniistry of Technology can exploit the new shift in distant education and not leave the tablets for gossip porn character destruction and web site bullying .
Please help me to understand; there already were primary as well as high school students whose already possessed smartphones, in some cases more than one, and expensive ones and other devices before the tablets were given out. I am assuming the kids had access to the internet and its content good and bad with the smartphones, if the parents were already in control of the content already viewed on these other devices available before the distribution of the tablets, then the same rules should apply now they have tablets. And the kids who didn’t have their own devices had friends with devices who had access to good as well as bad content. There was no policy put in place before the distribution, which should have been thought of before distributing, it is up to the parents now.
You guys make an issue out of everything! when the sun shines too much sun too much rain! Wake up stop the biasness we are in the age of technology it is up to the parents to discipline their child. Since you want to talk about controlling, why don’t Dominican women humble themselves
WTF?! WDMA?! “Since you want to talk about controlling, why don’t Dominican women humble themselves”. WOW! You aptly took the pseudonym “sorry” b/c it best describes your state of mind!
Are you saying that Mrs. Cuffy-Weekes should be quiet?! You epitomize everything wrong with our society, with that one line. It is quietness and excessive humility that causes so many problems in Dominica!
Lets not talk prevention, preparation, and education so that we can make the best of every opportunity. instead let women “humble ourselves” so the men amongst us can keep running rampant, doing whatsoever they please, taking advantage of our young children, then we will blame the same “humbled women” for prostituting their children.
We need a prison for the hyper-ignorant sort as you! Your type of thinking truly is a menace to our society.
My two cents. This labour of love writer is a sick freak.totally and blisfully blind in their ignorance. Dominica can go to hell in a handbasket for all they care just as long as labour remains in power. Then everything is right in labour of love world.
shouldn’t this be every student is ????
Politics should be the last thing that comes to mind in a situation where children and perversion or explicit photos are concerned. Perhaps it would have been better to install a filter and gain parent’s approval before giving a tablet to each child. It might have saved some headache now. Hindsight is always 20/20. It’s a little too late to be worrying about ‘should have’. Maybe next time there is a give away people will think twice about being so ready to put out their open hand a grab whatever they can get ‘for free’. There is no such thing as ‘free’ things’. In this case parental consent and rights were not even taken into consideration. No ‘free’dom there!
mrs weeks did u not hear it tech employed with the government say they placed and enable parental control features on the tablets b4 distribution, why don’t u get hold of one of these tabs and try to access one of the so called explicit sites and see what happens, our problem in this country we like to talk before knowing all the facts. im sure u neva even tried to use one of these tablets to try and see if there are features installed on them to restrict access to porn sited, U CAN GET UR HANDS ON ONE CUS THERE ARE 5000 PLUS OUT THERE
“I am aware of the fact that sometimes parents, we get things for our children that we ourselves do not know how they operate,” Mrs. Weekes remarked, confounding the notion that parents can install programs on the tablets to monitor which sites their children visit. Hence as a RESPONSIBLE Govt. it should have been a duty to sensor identified detrimental sites BEFORE issuance… a square peg in a round (wrong) hole!!!
Miss weeks , I understand your concern,but the tablets were not given to the parents, but to the children,and in that way ,it is very difficult to control the children ,as to what they do with them
The children came home with tablets and said ,mummy;;; this is what they gave ME Some never even showed it to their parents ,They should have called the parents in school ,and tell them to come and pick up a tablet for their child ,or children ,and make it their responsibility to maintain them ,and so they would have more control over them ,But this is what happens when you do things vikivy ,Instead of helping our children ,you cause them more destruction , PoLITiCS, PolitICs POLItics,LORD ,help us
Apparently you are not a parent. If you are then you have no idea what is going on with your child at school. The parent or guardian of each student had to sign a document stating the purpose of the tablets and that said parent/guardian MUST supervise tablet use. Students whose parent’s were not available to sign the day the tablets were distributed were not given a tablet.
In turn, you as a parent, or parents SHOULD always be on guard. You cannot be at your child 24/7 but you can check up on them often and this is something parents these days, sadly don’t do.
Even though “truth” may or may not be a parent, common sense should prevail and dictate that children should be monitored at all times. They are too young to be trusted with a tablet unsupervised. They must be counseled about it and the dangers of accessing some inappropriate websites.
(truth) Your penname is a paradox. All parents were required and did sign an agreement upon receipt of the tablets…..I believe Mrs. Weeks had digital control in mind and it might have been an oversight. On the other hand; with the rate of penetration of mobile units (“smartphones”), the consequences which concerns Mrs. Weeks can be done without the intervention of the government tablets.
truth, u dont sound like a parent. whether the tablets were given to the children , if u are a parent you are suppose to be the one in control. whether it was given to u or not saying that it is difficult to control the children or ur children is outrageous.. How can u have a child come home with the tablets from government and they never showed it to their parents? Thats madness. Well u ask for it.
truth, u not serious right? who is in control, the children or their parents.
I understand the concern that Mrs Cuffy Weekes has regarding the Tablets. I’m not sure about the method she is proposing for control. We should be well aware that we are very much into the era of technology. Some will use it to their good while others will use it to their disadvantage. Blocking certain sites will not help the problem. Children must be trained to pursue things that are wholesome. Its an open society. We chose our path. Parents will have to teach their children the path towards success. All things are possible. No need to fear about the technology.
This isn’t about being afraid of technology. Parental controls are typically available on many tablets. Parents should have been shown how to set these controls, and the devices should have already had limits on how much time is spent on games, etc. These are pretty standard features.
Anyone who has seen a child in front of a computer–especially teens — will know they can easily sit all day playing games, on social media, etc. without using the device for any educational purpose. Computers are akin to TVs, some kids may watch educational programming but the vast majority may watch what is simply entertaining unless they are curtailed in some way.
My family has ALWAYS been staunch Labourites!!! You see, the blessed Dominica Labour Party understands and sympathizes with the people of Dominica. One can almost feel the excitement and joy coming from the students who are now equipped with Tablets to enhance and further their educational endeavors. I look and see hundreds of young and new voters who will be voting the “shoe” in 2019-2020 without reservations or apologies. The Dominica Labour Party campaigns through positive and compassionate actions during the non-election season, winning the hearts of thousands on a daily basis. It is for this reason that the legacy of the Dominica Labour Party will remain intact for years and years to come. These students have an opportunity to experience the popular saying that “Labour ka Twavay” first hand. They see that the future is indeed with Labour and nowhere else. I am so proud!!! These detractors simply want some of the attention. Mrs. Cuffy-Weekes go buy your own tablet please!
Labour first. Children later. Who cares if our kids see inappropriate content or engage in illicit behavior using these tablets? Best to train them now so they can adequately service our right and honourable leaders when they come of age (or at least close to it!). They’ll vote us in 2019-2020 so we can continue “taking care” of them.
You have much to be proud of LoL! Just ask the NGO coalition of the successes labour has made in social services and child protection. Our courts are bursting at the seams with child sexual abuse cases. Labour ka Twavay overtime!
Are u a dumb a**? If u didn’t had anything to say about the matter why comment? You don’t make any sense. Still people like you turns out to be the fool. This is not a political matter if you wanted to write an introduction about your party you should have made a book or suggest it to be on the manifesto of the DPL
DLP*
labour love ,You mean vote for tablet? Well this is really prostitution
you fool if ya statement is so true why does skerrit bring in so many voters to curb the result. Get educated, go read a book and learn something. Dunce!!!
It is people like you and your ‘die hard comrades’ that are to blame for the countries downfall. Have you no eyes to see, no ears to hear and nothing between your two ears?
“I look and see hundreds of young and new voters who will be voting the “shoe” in 2019-2020 without reservations or apologies.”
Oh god i really hope not
I second that. Go buy your own tablet. All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. Such hypocrisy. Adultery is a sin. The tablet will give you the meaning. These days all wrong is right and all right is wrong. Search me OH God and know my heart today. Pretenders, hypocrites and parasites. These people causing too much confusion. A make-over is essential. So-so-en-tois
It seems with all this technology that we’ve forgotten the value(and safety) of books? I think the government is just trying to please these teenagers cause cause time for next elections, they’ll be voters! Is now facebook, twitter, instagram and local PAW gan be swinging!
Technology has its advantages and disadvantages. I believe that it’s good to introduce students to technology but what about using their brain to think? Having a tablet means they are just depending on the device to do the thinking for them. Everything is at their finger tips so it won’t take much effort for them to memorize anymore. Like Mrs. Weekes said, I believe that parents need to monitor what their children are doing or watching. Children can be lured as a result of what they may be exposed to on social media.
I support Mrs. Weekes on this issue.
PEACE
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Common scense is not always common.S.M.H. what do expect when { as reference} we cannot place tablets, and cheese in the hands of our children and expect them not to be intreated to Explore beyond just doing their School work. Because they can! this is 2015. Curiousity is the order of the Day, And every body want to trend, and feel they in that Too! Hello! thats human nature. Agree with MS . weeks we cannot cut our nose to spit our face. Not saying tablets should not be given to our school Children. Dominicans do not mis understand my point. But we cannot give a ## a drink and then tell him to stay sober. EH,Eh, we are always quick to fill the Headline News rather that being pro active we are stucked in being reactive. Mark my words the worst is yet to come. Where is the correction?
Labour Ka Twavay!!!! All hail the brilliance and compassion of the mighty Dominica Labour Party and our great and Christ-like Supreme Leader, the right and Honourable Dr. Roosevelt M. Skerrit. The Uneducated Wicked People cannot afford to give tablets to our precious school children and do not have friends in the International Community that would assist or facilitate them in doing so. Thus, they seek to disparage this magnificent gesture with negative criticism. However, our students are extremely happy. They are singing the well-deserved praises of the divine Dominica Labour Party and recognizing that red is a blessed color that should be worn in 2019-2020 during the next DLP victory rally!
LMAO. Have you erected the statue to his eminence as yet? And when will daily saluting to the christ-like supreme leader begin? I simply cannot wait! I have a special poem I hope to recite. I just hope it is pleasing to the right and honourable leader so that he does not scold me as he rightfully does some of our loose-lipped labour leaders
labour love , The bible say ,, One sin that will never be forgiven is ,Blasphaming against the holy ghost, and you have just done that, ShaME oN YoU
Labour love,’ The bible say, One sin that can never be forgiven is blasfaming against the holy ghost,
And you have just done that, ShamE ON YOU
Labour of love, May the Lord forgive you for u not what u say
OMG!!!