Child safety on the internet: a case study of Kawangware primary and secondary schools

Abstract

With an upsurge in cyber crimes globally, children are becoming a target on the cyberspace as Kenya grapples with a feeble Children's Act that does not provide sufficient protection to the victims as well as stringent penalties to the offenders, little emphasis is given towards management of challenges facing child safety on the internet. The main purpose of the study was to establish security challenges facing children on the internet with specific reference to Kawangware Primary and secondary School. The study specifically narrowed the research undertakings into level of internet access amongst children, dangers children are exposed to by the internet, options available for managing child safety on the internet and internet use guidelines for managing child safety on the internet. The study adopted a descriptive case study research design and the target population comprised of a total of 1280 respondents from Kawangware Primary and Secondary Schools. These involved; 80 teachers, 300 parents, 500 pupils and 400 secondary school students. The study used a stratified random sampling technique to select a sample size of 140 respondents and questionnaires were used as the major data collection instruments. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the gathered data using a statistical package for social scientists SPSS and this assisted in calculation of response frequency, mean, STD deviation and variance results. The study adopted a descriptive case study research design and the target population comprised of a total of 1280 respondents from Kawangware Primary and Secondary Schools. These involved; 80 teachers, 300 parents, 500 pupils and 400 secondary school students. The study used a stratified random sampling technique to select a sample size of 140 respondents and questionnaires were used as the major data collection instruments. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the gathered data using a statistical package for social scientists SPSS and this assisted in calculation of response frequency, mean, STD deviation and variance results.