K12 Cyber Safety Education in South Asia with the US Department of State
WHO
US Department of State, CISA
WHEN
2023
WHERE
India, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan
WHAT
Education, Implementation, Content Development
OBJECTIVE
In a significant stride towards bolstering cyber resilience, the US Department of State and CISA commissioned Cyberlite to spearhead an educational initiative across South Asian countries. This project, aimed at communities, children, and educators, forms a crucial part of the cyber capacity-building efforts in the region. As K12 curriculum developers and implementation partners, Cyberlite's mission was to enrich the digital safety knowledge and practices among these groups.
IMPLEMENTATION
School Outreach:
Utilising our expertise as implementation partners, we tapped into local networks of schools and collaborators to disseminate our training workshops to the intended beneficiaries, ensuring a broad and impactful reach.
Landscape Survey:
A comprehensive landscape survey was conducted, involving interviews with educators from each participating school. This step was critical to gauging the cyber posture of students, their online safety awareness, and the digital challenges faced by both students and teachers. Aligning our content with local education curricula and identified knowledge gaps was a priority, ensuring relevance and effectiveness.
Workshop Content Delivery:
Employing Cyberlite’s Internet Independent Framework, we crafted localised, age-appropriate content for both junior and senior student groups. This content was meticulously designed to reflect the findings of the landscape survey, local educational standards, and the unique context of online safety in the region.
Localisation and Differentiated Instruction:
Feedback from the landscape survey informed the further adaptation of each workshop's content, incorporating localised case studies, examples, and differentiated instruction methodologies. This approach ensured that our workshops were not only relevant but also resonant with the local context.
Workshop Delivery:
The workshops were primarily conducted in person, complemented by virtual hybrid sessions to extend our reach. Each session was led by two senior trainers, bringing deep expertise in cyber safety education to the fore.
Post Programme Reporting:
Following the completion of the workshops, post-programming surveys were conducted with each school. This was a vital step in gathering feedback, assessing the long-term impact, and identifying ongoing needs of the beneficiaries.
IMPACT
This initiative has made remarkable strides: Over 2,300 students across 6 South Asian cities have been educated, encompassing the K12 age range of 7 to 18 years. The cities include Mumbai and Bangalore (India), Male (Maldives), Kathmandu (Nepal), Thimphu (Bhutan), and Dhaka (Bangladesh).
Testimonials:
“The cybersecurity session had a positive impact on students, raising awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and equipping them with practical knowledge to better protect themselves online. It inspired attendees to take proactive measures to safeguard their digital presence and become more responsible digital citizens.” - Christel House Bangalore, India
“The workshop proved to be highly resourceful and beneficial to students. The session was interactive and students got to know several ways to keep themselves safe and protect themselves while using the Internet.” - Ahmadhiyya International School, Maldives
“I would like to greatly appreciate the representatives of Cyberlite to bring such an important and crucial programme for our children which is absolutely appropriate at these times when it is being over used without taking any safety measures.” - Sunnydale Middle School, Bangladesh
