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Cyber security lessons in schools

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is running a collaborative programme with its subsidiary body the United Arab Emirates Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT) and the Ministry of Education (MoE), designed to boost cyber security awareness among students at all stages of education.

The initiative trained nearly 500 teachers of grades 1 to 12 from every emirate on IT security best practice, providing the core knowledge needed to enhance the IT curriculum.

“Cyber security is a critical element to ensure the sustainable development of our nation’s knowledge economy,” said Mohamed Ahmad Al-Qamzi, TRA chairman: “Such security relies on the knowledge and vigilance of the public at large, and educating our youth is one critical element in building this robust knowledge base. This educational programme includes online activities, lectures and case studies designed to drive home best-practice to teachers, empowering them to pass it on to their students. And of course, from students, this knowledge passes to families and friends, enabling us to reach every home in the UAE.”

The IT security project reflects over two years of work by aeCERT, TRA and MoE developing a clear, comprehensive and easy to use curriculum designed to empower students with core cyber security knowledge. The curriculum includes guides in hard and soft copy for both students and teachers, structured in class activities and presentations, as well as fun and interactive games.

The curriculum content covers a comprehensive breakdown of cyber threats and clear approaches to ensuring security. Beginning with ethics of computer use, the structured content goes on to cover information security, including password protection and phishing security protocols, secure browser use, and correct use of content sharing on social media to protect privacy and avoid copyright infringement.

IT Security follows aeCERT’s broader mission to sustain a resilient and vigilant ICT infrastructure against a broader set of cyber security threats, while building robust culture of cyber security awareness across the UAE. —