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Media Literacy Seminars Empower Students in Bishramganj
Ivan D'Silva, SVD
On 14 July, Fr. Ivan and Fr. Bala Sauri conducted sessions for Class X, XI, and XII students at Don Bosco School, Bishramganj, with around 142 students participating. On 15 July, they held a similar seminar at Nabasardar Don Bosco School for higher secondary students, where 94 students registered. In both schools, the resource persons were warmly welcomed with traditional attire.
Fr. Ivan addressed the topic “Mobile Phones: Their Positive and Negative Impact.” He used short video clips to make the sessions interactive and engaging. He explored various aspects such as mobile phones and selfies, emojis, walking or driving, family relationships, academics, games, violence, and more.
During the session, Fr. Ivan asked students whether they thought mobile calls and messages are recorded. Most students believed they were not. He clarified by explaining:
“Telecom companies keep Call Detail Records (CDRs), which are essentially metadata about calls and messages, for a certain duration—often six months to a year. These records contain information like the phone numbers involved, timestamps, duration of calls, and message logs.”
He urged the students to be cautious about what they share, say, and message. Mr. Kwthar Jamatia expressed concern:
“No one told us about this before. I always thought that everything we speak or chat is private.”
Fr. Bala Sauri conducted a session on Social Media, using a PowerPoint presentation to explain the topic in detail. Both seminars ran from 9:00 a.m. to 1:40 p.m., with a break in between.
In her vote of thanks, Miss Sarnali Debbarma from Bishramganj School shared:
“The seminar was eye-opening for many of us, especially regarding the negative impact of mobile phones.”
Miss Mirita Debbarma, a Class XII student from Nabasardar School, also expressed her gratitude:
“The media literacy class was very useful. More time should be allotted to impart knowledge on such important topics.”
A teacher added:
“The sessions were well-designed and effectively delivered. They captured student attention and promoted active participation, leading to a positive learning experience.”
