Tribune News Network
Doha
The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), represented by the National Cyber Excellence Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s Department of E-learning and Digital solutions, launched a cyber-security awareness campaign targeting 30 schools that have 3,000 students, teachers and parents. The campaign is considered one of its kind in the field of cyber security targeting students in Qatar’s government schools.
Through the campaign, the NCSA aims to educate students about cyber risks and highlight the most prominent practices that help protect the educational sector, and the student community in general, from cyber risks, which in return will contribute to enhancing the values of digital citizenship.
Dalal Al Aqeedi, manager of National Cyber Excellence Department, said: “This project is part of the efforts to enhance cyber awareness and build a secure cyber society where all its segments are aware of the challenges that accompany the rapid technological revolution. The agency believes that enhancing cyber security in the local community is the core of collaboration between educational and security entities to strengthen cyber awareness and protect students from cyber threats.”
Al Aqeedi added: “Our partnership with the Ministry of Education has resulted in launching the Cyber Educational Curricula project which is the first of its kind in the region in terms of targeting students in the school environment and is customised for each age group with content commensurate with their level of awareness.This is in addition to addressing students with special needs, parallel education and education of elderly to ensure the dissemination of cyber awareness in the entire educational community.”
She pointed out that the cyber education curricula is presented in a smooth and enjoyable way and include a range of educational tools such as visual products, awareness videos, posters and infographics, in addition to a booklet for teachers and parents.
Al Aqeedi explained that in alignment with the ‘Educational Cybersecurity Curricula’ project, another pioneering initiative was launched that complements it, namely ‘Cyber Eco’, a cyber security awareness initiative. It aims to enhance awareness of the concepts and values of cyber safety through extra-curricular activities within the school environment, including field visits to public and private schools, workshops and competitions.
To complement the cyber security curricula project, the NCSA launched a website that includes videos, animations, and brochures available to all students and whoever wants to gain such knowledge.
The schools at which the awareness campaign was launched are Al Muthanna Bin Haritha Model school, Hauteen Model School, Saad bin Mowath School, Saud bin Abdulrahman Model school, Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani Model School, Moza Bint Mohammed School, Albayan School, Omama Bint Hamza School, Al Shifaa School and Al Khansaa School.
The campaign will continue until the end of the current semester in May 2023 in a number of preparatory and secondary schools.
