Kiwi not-for-profit organisation CORE has announced it is supporting the international Safer Internet Day 2015, led by NetSafe, on 10 February 2015. 

Safer Internet Day is celebrated worldwide to encourage the safe and positive use of the internet and digital technologies among children and young people.

“With the growing use of digital devices in both schools and the wider community, Safer Internet Day brings attention to promoting safer, responsible use of digital technologies among young people,” says Karen Melhuish Spencer, lead advisor for CORE's e-learning programmes.

“This is a good reminder to our early years' centres, schools and kura to practice responsible, purposeful use of web-capable tools.”

CORE has developed some top tips for schools, which can be downloaded and printed in poster format. The SID website also has ideas for activities that schools can participate in.

“NetSafe and CORE have worked together for many years and we're glad to work alongside an organisation who understand the purpose and nature of SID,” says Sean Lyons, from NetSafe.

“We know that schools can benefit from being aware of the digital challenges that young people can experience online. It's also important to know where to get information about preventing issues from arising and how to respond if they occur.”

Safer Internet Day is supported in New Zealand by the New Zealand Police, Vodafone, NZ Principals' Federation and several other New Zealand organisations.

CORE's sole aim to ‘push the boundaries of educational possibility', ultimately focused on the learning needs of children in schools andcentres. The organisation works with the Ministry of Education on strategic projects, and directly with schools and educators across all sectors to develop and enhance skills and knowledge across many key areas such as digital, e-learning, modern learning.