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How NGOs and schools can promote internet governance
- LARUS Foundation
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Table of Contents
How NGOs and schools can strengthen internet governance by empowering learners, shaping policy awareness and building digital citizenship through education and collaboration.
Key points
Education and NGOs play a vital role in equipping young people with the understanding of internet governance, rights and responsibilities.
Multi-stakeholder efforts between schools, NGOs like the larus.foundation, and international bodies enhance inclusive, ethical and policy-oriented internet governance.
Introduction: what is internet governance and why it matters
Internet governance refers to the development and application of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures and activities that shape the evolution and use of the global Internet. This involves a wide range of stakeholders — governments, the private sector, technical experts, civil society and users themselves — working together to ensure the online world is open, secure, inclusive and sustainable.
While the Internet’s technical foundations are complex, governance affects everyone from individual users to multinational corporations. Decisions about privacy, cybersecurity, access, copyright and content moderation all fall under the broad umbrella of internet governance. Yet many of these conversations remain abstract or confined to expert forums such as the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), a multistakeholder platform established by the United Nations to promote inclusive public policy dialogue.
Why education is foundational to internet governance
Education is essential to meaningful participation in internet governance. Without a basic understanding of how internet policies are shaped — who sets them, why they matter and how they impact daily online experiences — students and citizens cannot effectively advocate for their rights or contribute to debates that will shape their digital future.
This goes beyond teaching students how to code or stay safe online; it includes fostering an understanding of digital rights, public policy, ethics and civic engagement. UNESCO, for example, stresses that internet governance is central to building inclusive knowledge societies and enhancing the free flow of information globally — goals that cannot be realised without education and awareness.
The role of NGOs like larus.foundation
Organisations such as the larus.foundation are uniquely positioned to bridge gaps between technical governance discussions and grassroots understanding. According to its mission, the larus.foundation strives to educate the global Internet community and empower stakeholders — from students to policy advocates — to engage meaningfully in internet governance and policy-making processes.
NGOs bring several strengths to this space:
Advocacy and awareness-raising: NGOs can demystify governance issues and highlight their relevance to everyday internet use, from data privacy to content moderation.
Training and capacity building: Non-profits often develop resources, workshops and events aimed at building digital policy literacy among youth and educators.
Inclusive representation: Civil society organisations ensure that voices outside government and corporate sectors — including those of young people — are included in conversations about internet governance.
Schools as platforms for digital governance literacy
Schools play a crucial role in preparing young people to navigate and participate in digital societies. Traditional curricula focus on literacy, numeracy and STEM subjects. Yet in an era where technology shapes political discourse, education must also equip students with civic and digital literacy.
Programmes that embed internet governance topics within social studies, media literacy, and citizenship education can help learners understand how digital policies affect their rights and responsibilities. For example, youth-led initiatives such as Childnet’s Digital Leaders programme empower students to teach peers about internet safety and digital citizenship — laying the groundwork for deeper engagement in governance issues.
Partnerships between NGOs and educational institutions
Partnerships between NGOs like larus.foundation and schools can accelerate progress in internet governance education. Successful collaboration typically involves:
Curriculum co-development: NGOs can work with educators to integrate internet governance topics into lesson plans.
Training for teachers: Continuous professional development ensures teachers feel confident in delivering complex concepts related to digital policy and ethics.
Youth forums and workshops: Joint events give students hands-on experience in debating policy, proposing solutions and understanding governance structures.
Such partnerships also help schools access high-quality materials and expert speakers who can contextualise internet governance in real-world scenarios.
Empowering youth voices in governance discussions
Effective internet governance requires input from the very populations it affects most — young people. Their daily interaction with digital platforms positions them uniquely to offer insights into emerging issues, from algorithmic bias to content moderation. As Will Gardner, CEO of Childnet, notes with respect to digital engagement:
“Whatever the technology in question, young people are always ahead, and so their voice is really important.”
This perspective underscores the need to involve youth not just as learners, but as active contributors to governance dialogues.
Promoting inclusivity and equity
A core objective of internet governance education is to ensure that all communities — regardless of geography, language, ability or socio-economic status — can participate in shaping digital norms. Initiatives that focus solely on technical skills risk excluding those without prior exposure to tech.
By contrast, NGOs and schools can collaborate to promote inclusive literacy that emphasises digital rights, access and equity. Programmes may include translation of materials into local languages, community outreach, and targeted support for marginalised groups.
Connecting local action with global governance
While internet governance plays out on a global stage — for example through national and regional IGF initiatives — local education efforts are equally important. By equipping students with governance literacy, schools help build a pipeline of future leaders who can represent their communities in broader policy discussions.
NGOs can support this by linking classroom experiences to international forums and debates, helping students understand how local issues connect to global governance challenges.
Challenges and future directions
Despite these opportunities, several challenges remain:
Resource limitations: Many schools lack the funding or expertise to introduce specialised governance education.
Curriculum rigidity: National curricula may not easily accommodate emerging topics like digital policy without systemic reform.
Awareness gaps: Students and educators alike may be unfamiliar with the language and processes of internet governance.
Addressing these will require sustained advocacy, investment and collaboration across sectors.
FAQs
1.What exactly is internet governance?
Internet governance encompasses the rules, norms and processes that shape how the Internet is managed and used, including policy areas like access, cybersecurity and digital rights.
2.Why should schools teach about internet governance?
Teaching internet governance equips future citizens with the knowledge to understand digital policy decisions that affect their rights, safety and participation online.
3.How can NGOs make internet governance more accessible?
NGOs translate complex governance topics into educational programmes, raise awareness, and empower communities to engage in policy discussions.
4.What role do students play in internet governance?
Students, particularly digital natives, bring valuable perspectives on technology use and can advocate for policies that reflect their lived online experiences.
5.Can internet governance education influence public policy?
Yes — informed citizens are more likely to engage in public consultations, participate in forums and hold policymakers accountable on digital issues.