The Karnataka government has joined with Meta Inc. to train over one lakh teachers and 10 lakh students across the state in digital safety, augmented reality, and virtual reality (AR-VR) by 2025. The initiative called the Digital Nagarik and AR-VR Skills Programme, was inaugurated by IT, BT and Science and Technology Minister Priyank Kharge.
Karnataka, the first state in India to collaborate with Meta on such an initiative, signed a Letter of Intent in November 2023, entering into a two-year partnership to promote digital education and online safety for students. The programme will provide digital awareness training to school and PU students aged 18 to 24. Meta will also train and deploy master trainers to train students in digital safety and AR-VR skills.
The initiative will cover 100 colleges and universities across the state. The training will focus on digital safety and awareness. The first implementation phase will cover Bengaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Belagavi and Dakshin Kannada, with the remaining districts to be included in the next phase.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Priyank Kharge said, “Today, we embark on this crucial journey towards a Cyber-Safe Karnataka. The Digital Nagrik Campaign is aimed at fortifying the minds of our young with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of the cyber world.” The minister added, “The Government of Karnataka recognizes the urgent need to address cybersecurity at the grassroots level. We are committed to empowering our students with the education they need to protect themselves from the ever-evolving threats that lurk in the cyber landscape. This campaign is not just about teaching our children how to create strong passwords or recognize phishing scams. It is about instilling a mindset of vigilance and responsibility that will stay with them for life.
The Digital Nagarik Programme features workshops, seminars and hands-on activities. The workshops will be conducted in both Kannada and English.
Over 500 people from all around the state attended the event, including master trainers who will be government school teachers and nodal officers from the departments of Higher Education, PU Board, and School Education. Following the launch, a 60-minute interactive training session was conducted for key nodal department officials to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate and leverage the rapidly evolving technological landscape effectively.
