Shanghai's elementary schools should open up their computer labs and prevent minors from going to Internet cafes during the upcoming winter vacation, the Shanghai Education Commission said yesterday.

Primary and secondary schools were required to organize educational activities before the winter vacation starts on Monday. They were also told to warn students not to make random friends on the Internet or spread rumors online.

Schools were advised to invite a police official to brief students about Internet-related cases. This can help them realize that spreading a false rumor that disturbs society can be a crime and offenders will be punished.

The reminder, commission officials said, was important especially after a couple of rumors were allegedly initiated and spread by students.

Last month, two vocational school students were arrested on suspicion they spread a rumor that thieves were threatening to inject people with a needle full of AIDS infected blood in downtown business areas. They were charged with disturbing social order.

The two students, the youngest is 15, overheard a private conversation. They posted the story in an online chatroom and sent it to others by cell phone short messages.

The rumor spread quickly throughout the city, causing some fear among the public.

"The case shows some vocational school students lack knowledge of the law," the commission wrote in a statement released yesterday.

The commission added schools need to guide students on the proper use of the Internet.

(Shanghai Daily January 20, 2006)