With a steep rise in cybercrime cases in the country, the police in Kapilvastu district in Nepal have started a new curriculum to create awareness among students about the internet safety and security.

The student-targeted curriculum has been launched in 80 schools of Kapilvastu Municipality and Yashodhara Rural Municipality, district police said.

Anita Chaudhary, a Class 10 student at Kanakmuni Secondary School in Ward No. 9 of Kapilvastu Municipality, said she has learned about safe internet usage.

“I have even learned how to find educational materials from the internet. This has been very helpful,” Chaudhary was quoted by The Kathmandu Times.

According to the District Police Office, the initiative was undertaken under the School Police Partnership Programme.

The programme will help children to be aware of the risks associated with the use of the internet and how to protect themselves.

“This will eventually help the children grow into responsible citizens,” Superintendent of Police in Kapilvastu Nawaraj Adhikari was quoted.

The District Police Office has distributed textbooks to the schools. The book – for students of Class 5 to Class 12 -  aims to educate students on various issues like drug abuse, smoking, alcohol consumption, cybercrime, and the use of social media.

Other social issues like child marriage, witchcraft accusation, dowry system, crimes on children, and sexual misbehavior on children have been included in the textbook, officials said.

Similarly, the book gives information about legal punishment on a rape conviction, criminal record system, retaliation against gender violence, drug addiction, human trafficking, cybercrime, and traffic rule awareness.

It also mentions what safety measures to take from snake bites and fire incidents.

“We will expand the book distribution programme to all the local units within a month. Police officers will take classes as a guest teacher if need be,” Superintendent of Police Nabaraj Adhikari said.