publish time

21/05/2017

author name Arab Times

publish time

21/05/2017

KUWAIT CITY, May 21: Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Development and Activities Faisal Maqseed cautioned parents against the widespread use of a very dangerous electronic game called “Blue Whale”, which pushes a player towards suicide 50 days after subscription.News agencies across the globe including in Europe and GCC countries revealed about the popularity of the game among older children particularly adolescents. He urged parents to keep an eye on their wards in elementary and intermediate classes during the summer to keep them safe from the dangers posed by this game, against which many serious comments have been raised within the Arabian Gulf region and the world at large.Maqseed explained that cases related to the use of this game have not been recorded in public schools. Nevertheless, it is necessary to warn parents, especially considering the low level of monitoring at homes in this era of electronic apps. He revealed that some local newspapers in a particular GCC country reported that the app has been blocked within GCC countries and that awareness campaigns have intensified for parents.Maqseed pointed out some video clips on social media that have been warning parents and urging them to keep an eye on the type of games their children play. He stressed this requires urgent action, because the game has spread throughout the Western countries with the aim of brainwashing unsuspecting adolescents.Meanwhile, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education Dr Haitham Al-Athari has given nod for reforms in the Evaluation and Absence Provisions of the Secondary Stage education, reports Al-Rai daily.Al-Athari announced according to the new provisions the parent of the student will be notified in writing if the son/daughter is absent from school for five days without a valid reason and that half mark from each subject will be deducted during the final exam.Should the student remain absent for 10 days without acceptable excuse another half mark will be deducted from the marks scored in the final exam. The father will receive the third notification if the student is absent for 15 days and a further one mark will be deducted from each subject after the final exam. On the 16th day absence without valid reason the student will be dismissed and considered ‘failed’.By Rana Salem Al-Seyassah Staff