Page 11 - EDUSURE JANUARY-FEBRUARY 22

Department of School Education opment of the school. demonstrates great writing skills,
and Literacy, Government of India, G Sreeja is a very active student. I has a good academic record, and al-
and a panel of women achievers as was surprised to see her writing two- ways is on her toes to learn more.
part of National Girl Child Day page stories from the beginning of She has also cleared the National
our story-writing programme. She Means Cum Merit Scholarship Test.
celebrations. How did it go?
The panel of women achievers
he story-writing activity has been helping students to improve their
like the Secretary, Department of Tlanguage, reading, and writing skills. Gone are the days when children
School Education and Literacy, replicated textbook content; they have begun to write answers using
Government of India, inspire many
students like me. They symbolise their own words in examinations. As a result, they have said goodbye to
achievement and have proved that rote learning and are trying to understand the lesson from a practical
education is very important. I wish point of view. They have cultivated a reading habit and even spend hours
to see myself in their shoes some- reading their textbooks and journals to acquire more knowledge in math-
day, with high qualifications. I want ematics, science, social sciences, etc. Also, it is paving the path for students
to be an inspiration to other women to make literature a career, with students like P Deepika and G Sreeja
in the future, as they inspired me. the improved academic perform- coming first and second, respectively, at the national story-writing com-
We have received a positive re- ance of their children. They are in- petition for children organised by Telangana Private Teachers Forum.
sponse from all the parents due to vested in contributing to the devel- – P Ashok, Headmaster, ZPHS Kura

Kashish Singh, Class 8, GGHS Ma-
habubia, Hyderabad
Kashish Singh received the
'Young Achievers' award for her piv-
otal role in creating a cyber security
awareness campaign. She educated
many school students about cyber
risks and how to catch cyber crimi-
nals.
Excerpts from an interview with
the student willing to absorb the
greatest of knowledge from experi-
ences to come her way and em-
power women from all walks of life

How did you get a chance to be
part of the cyber security
awareness campaign?
My school has arranged regular in-
teractions with SHE teams, the local
police, traffic police, medical depart-
ments, and non-governmental or- Kashish Singh, Class 8, GGHS Mahabubia, Hyderabad, won the title of
ganisations (NGOs). We learn how Young Achiever for conducting an awareness campaign on cyber security
each department works and its laws
and regulations. It prompted me to the real test was only about to begin. about the need for cyber security, with me, helping me gain a deeper
be part of the awareness campaign As a high school student with no we were first made to understand understanding of the subject. The
about cyber security. Active partici- prior experience interacting with cybercrime. I used this as an oppor- most significant contribution from
pation and fluent English language many individuals, I had trouble tunity to analyse and be more aware the school head, teachers, and
skills were the deciding factors in my reaching out to people and sharing of the dark web, to come up with in- friends was to become a part of my
selection as a Young Achiever, com- my knowledge. novative ways to catch cybercrimi- campaigning journey about Cyber
peting with 75 other students at the nals and protect data, especially fi- Security.
national level. I feel proud to have Could you please tell us about your nancial data.
represented Telangana state. field experience? How did your parents react to your
What kind of help did you get from new passion and achievement?
Do you mind sharing the challenges Being a school student, I was only your school? What kind of My parents provided me with un-
you faced during training? That's no aware of technology as a means of encouragement did your teachers wavering support right from the
mean achievement! However, there convenience: we routinely use tech- give you? training days to the execution of
must have been some bumps in the nology to learn lessons virtually, awareness initiatives. They were de-
share knowledge on WhatsApp, and When I got selected to train at a
road. lighted to learn of my selection for
educate ourselves on YouTube, state-specific joint initiative of the the joint initiative. Now, they are
Much of the training course on among other things. The course Women's Safety Wing of the Telan- very pleased to see me as one of the
Cyber Security Awareness was in the made me aware of the darker side gana Police and School Education nation's Young Achievers.
Telugu language, which was difficult of technology — cybercrime. I was Department, I was greatly appreci-
because my mother tongue is Hindi. shocked by the list of common cy- ated by my school head and teach- How does it feel to be recognized as
However, I made an effort to over- bercrimes, such as the hacking of ers. They motivated and assisted me a Young Achiever?
come this obstacle by seeking the as- smart devices, child trafficking, throughout my training period, es- I'm thrilled! It would be the most
sistance of my Telugu-speaking pornography, theft of intellectual pecially when language became a unforgettable experience of my life.
friends. My Telugu has gradually im- property and identities, and privacy barrier. Also, teachers would share I see this as the beginning of my fu-
proved, making learning easy. But, violation. Thus, before learning information about cyber security
ture endeavours, and I intend to
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