Digital Safeguarding Shift: New Toolkit Targets AI, Online Abuse Risks in Schools
Student safety in schools is now being affected by rapidly evolving and hard-to-detect risks spreading online, including peer-inflicted harm, mental health issues, and harassment driven by artificial intelligence (AI). To address this situation, the British Council, with support from UNICEF, has launched a new global “Safeguarding Toolkit.”
According to the British Council in Dhaka, the initiative aims to enable schools to quickly identify risks, take appropriate action based on circumstances, and establish a consistent culture of safeguarding in every case.
According to UNICEF, approximately 150 million students aged 13 to 15 worldwide have reported experiencing some form of violence from peers in or around school.
Data from UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) show that one in every three internet users globally is a child, increasing the risk of online exploitation and fraud. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that one in seven adolescents suffers from mental health issues, which are often interconnected with safety conditions within schools.
However, the core problem is not merely awareness, but the proper implementation of policies. Many schools have written safeguarding policies, but inconsistencies are often observed in day-to-day decision-making.
British Council Bangladesh Country Director Stephen Forbes said, “Safeguarding cannot depend on personal assumptions or individual experience alone. It must be managed in alignment with the context and the community involved. In this regard, clearly defined roles, proper documentation of information, and transparent procedures are essential. This will help identify problems at an early stage and enable prompt action. The toolkit is designed to translate safeguarding policies into everyday practice.”
Almudena Olaguibel, Child Protection Officer at UNICEF Spain, said, “The Safeguarding Toolkit reflects a shared understanding between the British Council and UNICEF—that effective safeguarding depends not on ad hoc decisions, but on structured and robust systems. As safeguarding risks become more complex and less visible, preparedness, clarity, and a collective sense of responsibility among all stakeholders in schools are becoming increasingly essential.”
Designed for daily use in schools, the toolkit will reduce reliance on individual judgment and establish a comprehensive institutional framework. It will clarify responsibilities, strengthen proper data recording systems, and provide guidance on agreed standards and escalation pathways where necessary. It also allows for the separate consideration of child protection and adult behavior to ensure transparency and accountability.
As safety risks are now rapidly spreading across both physical and online environments, the toolkit will help schools more systematically address threats such as online grooming, harassment, fraud, and AI-generated inappropriate images and videos. It will also guide timely interventions before incidents escalate into serious situations.
The toolkit will be implemented in more than 2,500 British Council partner schools worldwide, bringing approximately 1.7 million students directly under its safeguarding coverage. It will help schools maintain a global standard while adapting to local laws and contexts.
DBTech/EHM/MUM/OR
