Cybersecurity education should start in schools because children are becoming active and independent internet users at a younger age than ever before, and they need the fundamental skills to navigate the digital world safely, just as they are taught to navigate the physical world.
As of September 2, 2025, for a child growing up here in Rawalpindi and across Pakistan, the digital world is not a separate place; it is an integral part of their social and educational life. Making cybersecurity a core component of their schooling is not a niche, technical subject; it is a fundamental requirement for their personal safety, mental well-being, and future success in the 21st century.
1. Children Are Online Earlier Than Ever
The modern child is a “digital native.” They are growing up with smartphones and tablets as a constant presence. While they may be incredibly adept at using the technology, they often lack the critical thinking skills to understand the inherent risks that come with it.
- The Reality: Children are being exposed to the internet—through platforms like YouTube, mobile games, and social media apps like TikTok—long before they receive any formal education on how to use it safely. They are often unaware of the permanence of their “digital footprint” or the dangers of sharing personal information online with strangers.
- Why School is Essential: Just as we teach children basic road safety rules, we must teach them the basic rules of online safety. Schools provide the ideal, structured environment to instill these foundational lessons in an age-appropriate manner, before bad habits and risky behaviors become ingrained.
2. To Combat Modern Threats Like Cyberbullying and Scams
The playground of the 21st century has expanded into the digital realm, and unfortunately, so have its dangers. Schools are on the frontline of dealing with threats that directly impact a child’s well-being.
- Cyberbullying: This is one of the most direct and damaging threats to a child’s mental health. Unlike physical bullying, cyberbullying can be relentless and pervasive, following a child into their home 24/7. School-based programs are essential for teaching children about empathy, responsible online communication, and, crucially, what to do and who to tell if they are being bullied or see it happening to others.
- Online Predators and Scams: Children are inherently trusting and can be easily manipulated. They are prime targets for online predators who may try to groom them, and for the countless phishing scams that circulate in Pakistan, designed to trick them into revealing their parents’ personal or financial information. Education in schools can arm them with the healthy skepticism needed to recognize, report, and avoid these dangers.
3. To Build Lifelong ‘Digital Hygiene’ Habits
Good cybersecurity is not a one-time lesson; it is a set of lifelong habits. By introducing these habits at a young age, they become as natural and routine as brushing your teeth.
- The Core Habits: School is the perfect place to teach the fundamentals of “digital hygiene,” including:
- Password Security: The importance of creating strong passwords and, critically, not sharing them with friends.
- Privacy Settings: How to navigate and use the privacy settings on their favorite social media apps and games to control who can see their information and interact with them.
- Recognizing Misinformation: In an age of rampant “fake news,” teaching children from a young age how to critically evaluate the information they see online is an essential life skill.
4. To Create a Secure Future Workforce for Pakistan
The global shortage of cybersecurity professionals is a critical economic and national security issue. The long-term solution to this problem begins in the classroom.
- Sparking an Early Interest: By introducing the concepts of cybersecurity and ethical hacking in an engaging way in schools, we can spark an interest in the field among young students, encouraging them to pursue it as a career path.
- A Secure Workforce for Pakistan’s Future: For a country like Pakistan, which has a rapidly growing freelance and tech industry, building a large, homegrown pool of cybersecurity talent is essential for our future economic growth and national security. This talent pipeline starts with creating awareness and foundational knowledge at the school level.