Some fictitious material, the minister says, are sometimes mistaken as factual.

"The Internet is full of remarkable information and knowledge but also full of fiction and rumour masquerading as wisdom," said Henry-Wilson.  "Once every child has access to the Internet that child is free to surf when and where he or she wishes.  And the school and parent have to be more vigilant and ensure that what is learnt is wholesome and factual and ought to be learnt by that child."

The education minister was speaking in a pre-recorded message for the International Conference on Children and the Internet hosted by Cable and Wireless Foundation in partnership with the children's Internet charity, Childnet International and the British Council in Montego Bay Thursday.

The issue is one that Childnet International is addressing.  President of Cable and Wireless Jamaica Jacqueline Holding shared the education minister's concerns, but added that the broad public had a responsibility to police what children consume.

"I would dare to venture that almost every society accepts that parents are the ultimate arbiters of the children's online experiences - where they go, with whom they chat, or what information they disperse.  But it is very obvious that parents alone cannot be expected to do this job," said Holding.

For the Internet to be a safe, educational and entertainment medium, she said, parents, educators, civil society, the technology industry, policy makers and the law enforcement community have to be watchdogs.

"With this community stewardship, the Internet will be a rewarding place for children that is safe all the time," said the C&WJ president.

She, however, agreed that awareness campaigns were needed to educate the public about online risks and current laws.

The conference attracted teachers and students from Jamaica, Nigeria, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Scotland, Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam, Northern Ireland and Canada.

The first 25 schools that signed up for the conference were all awarded a Max unit by the telecoms company.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20050403T210000-0500_78053_OBS_POLICING_WHAT_CHILDREN_CONSUME_ON_THE_INTERNET.asp