NCSA launches drive to educate students

Doha: The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), represented by the National Cyber Excellence Department and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s Department of E-learning and Digital solutions, launched an awareness campaign targeting 30 schools which include 3,000 students, teachers and parents.

The campaign is considered one of its kind in the field of cybersecurity targeting students in Qatar’s government schools.

Through this campaign, NCSA aims to educate students about cyber risks, raise their level of awareness and highlight the most prominent practices that help protect the educational sector and the student’s community from cyber risks, which in return will contribute to enhancing the values of digital citizenship.

In this regard, Dalal Al Aqeedi, National Cyber Excellence Department Manager in the National Cyber Security Agency, said; “This project comes within the agency’s framework to enhance cyber awareness and its vision to build a secure cyber society where all its segments are aware of the challenges that accompany the rapid technological revolution.

“The agency’s full belief that enhancing cybersecurity in the local community is the core of collaboration between educational and security entities to strengthen cyber awareness bonds and protect students in various age groups 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 to each age group with content commensurate with their level of awareness. 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 includes a range of educational tools including visual products, awareness videos, posters and infographics, in addition to a guide booklet for teachers and parents.

Additionally, Al Aqeedi explained that in alignment with the “Educational Cybersecurity Curricula” project, another pioneering initiative was launched that complements it which is the cybersecurity awareness initiative “Cyber Eco”.

The initiative 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 cybersecurity curricula project, the National Cyber Security Agency launched a website that includes videos, animations, and brochures available to all students and whoever wants to gain such knowledge.

The schools in 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.