The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, has revealed the initiation of the Cybersecurity Educational Curricula in 170 private schools in the initial phase, followed by an additional 100 private schools in the subsequent phase. The introduction of Educational Cybersecurity Curricula in private schools follows its successful implementation in all government schools in 2023. This initiative reflects the NCSA's commitment to establishing a digitally secure society and its ongoing efforts to improve digital safety standards within the community.
The objective of the Cybersecurity Educational Curricula is to nurture a new generation capable of navigating the digital world safely and proficiently. It aims to instil awareness among children and adolescents regarding diverse concepts related to cybersecurity and digital safety. The curriculum is designed for students across different educational levels, spanning from the first grade of primary school to the third grade of secondary school. Dalal Al Aqeedi, the Director of the National Cyber Excellence Department at the National Cyber Security Agency, further stated, "As part of its comprehensive strategy, the agency seeks to improve cybersecurity indicators, digital safety, and digital literacy across various segments of society, with a primary focus on students".
Digital literacy among students is considered a foundational element in preparing the entire community. Emphasizing this, she highlighted that the Cybersecurity Educational Curricula align completely with the NCSA's preventive cybersecurity strategy, which is geared towards advancing digital security indicators in the State of Qatar. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the NCSA is set to initiate site visits to schools in January 2024 as part of the Cyber Echo project. This initiative aims to further elevate digital literacy among students across various educational levels. The project will complement the existing Educational Cybersecurity Curricula and will offer specialized training materials for both trainers and parents. The first phase of the project targeted 80 government schools, and in this subsequent phase, it will extend its focus to approximately 70 private schools, totalling around 150 government and private schools in the country.
