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Cyber security education is as essential as "the three R's"
Isabella M Venter1, Rénette J Blignaut1, Karen Renaud2,3,4
1University of the Western Cape, South Africa.
Heliyon
|December 25, 2019
Summary
South Africa needs to teach cybersecurity in primary schools to ensure all citizens, especially young women, can protect themselves from cyber-attacks. Integrating this essential skill early addresses the current gender imbalance in digital security awareness.
Area of Science:
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Security
- Educational Policy
- Gender Studies
Background:
- Smartphones are ubiquitous in South Africa, making device security crucial.
- Current cybersecurity education is limited to university computing courses, reaching a small, predominantly male demographic.
- This limited approach leaves many, particularly young women, vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the urgent need for comprehensive cybersecurity education in South Africa.
- To advocate for integrating cybersecurity awareness into the primary school curriculum.
- To address the gender disparity in cybersecurity knowledge and preparedness.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the current state of cybersecurity education in South African schools and universities.
- Identification of the gender imbalance in cybersecurity awareness due to the current educational approach.
- Proposal for a curriculum-integrated approach to cybersecurity education from an early age.
Main Results:
- Cybersecurity education is not formally part of the South African school curriculum.
- University-level cybersecurity training is accessible only to a small percentage of students, primarily males.
- The current system creates a significant gender gap in cybersecurity awareness and skills, leaving young women more vulnerable.
Conclusions:
- Cybersecurity education should be integrated into the curriculum from primary school, akin to the "3 Rs".
- Early and widespread education will equip all South Africans with essential digital security skills.
- Implementing this strategy will help mitigate the existing gender imbalance in cybersecurity awareness and preparedness.