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The CEO of the NCSC Receives the Director of the Ma’an Program to Honor the Teams Advancing Cybersecurity Culture in Schools
His Excellency Sheikh Salman bin Mohammed AlKhalifa, CEO of the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC), received Mr. Ali Ahmed Amini, Director of the Anti-Violence and Addiction Program (Ma’an), in the presence of Ms. Aisha Ahmed Haji, Director of Outreach and Awareness Directorate at the NCSC, along with officials involved in developing and implementing the cybersecurity curriculum from both sides.
The meeting comes within the framework of advancing the national initiative “Enhancing Cybersecurity Culture among School Students” through the launch and implementation of an educational awareness curriculum on cybersecurity. The curriculum aims to strengthen community partnership, raise students’ cybersecurity awareness, support efforts to protect youth from cyber risks, and promote intellectual security.
At the beginning of the meeting, His Excellency the CEO of the NCSC praised the Ma’an Program and the methodologies adopted in conducting field studies and scientific research that demonstrate their effectiveness. He highlighted the implementation of these programs and curricula across all school levels to measure their impact, as well as the Ma’an Program’s commitment to regularly updating and developing its educational content to keep pace with emerging local and global challenges.
His Excellency emphasized that the cybersecurity curriculum that was developed and implemented through this collaboration is the first of its kind in the region. He noted that it contributes significantly to the goals of the National Cyber Security Strategy and aligns with international standards for building human capabilities, as outlined in the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Global Cybersecurity Index.
During the meeting, the Director of the Ma’an Program presented the preliminary analytical results on the impact of the Ma’an cybersecurity curriculum on students and its effectiveness in achieving its objectives. He noted that the program has been implemented since 2021 in cooperation with the Outreach and Awareness Directorate at the NCSC and is monitored according to a set timeline. The program collects and analyzes data from the curriculum’s implementation and measurement tools, with the aim of publishing the findings as research papers and intellectual contributions in relevant international journals and online platforms.
In conclusion, His Excellency Sheikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, CEO of the NCSC, honored the Outreach and Awareness Directorate team, the Ma’an Program team, and all those involved in developing, implementing, monitoring, and updating the curriculum. He praised the high level of professionalism demonstrated by the teams in raising students’ awareness and effectively delivering the information.