Empowering Youth in the Digital Age: A Curriculum Proposal Informed by Welsh High School Teachers' Perspectives on Cybersecurity Education
Empowering Youth in the Digital Age: A Curriculum Proposal Informed by Welsh High School Teachers' Perspectives on Cybersecurity Education
File Size:
1.79 MB
Author:
Maha Alotaibi, Yulia Cherdantseva, Omar Rana, Catherine Teehan
Date:
27 November 2024
As cyber threats increasingly target vulnerable youth, the need for comprehensive cybersecurity education has become more critical. Integrating cybersecurity into secondary school curricula offers a promising solution, equipping students with the necessary skills to identify and mitigate cyber risks. Despite the increasing number of cyber risks targeting young people, cybersecurity education in secondary schools is still in its early stages. This study investigates the perspectives of 27 Welsh secondary school teachers on incorporating cybersecurity education into their curricula through semi-structured interviews. The qualitative insights gathered reveal key challenges and opportunities, including a lack of resources, age-appropriate materials, and pedagogical support for teaching cybersecurity. Our findings underscore the need for targeted educational reforms and collaboration between schools and cybersecurity professionals. Based on these results, we provide practical recommendations for educators, school administrators, and cybersecurity practitioners to enhance youth cybersecurity education.