The Ministry of Education in partnership with the Ministry of Communications (MoCD) and Huawei Technologies, Ghana as part of the Girls in ICT program is set to train 60,000 Senior High School female students on cyber security.
The Digitalisation Ministry in a post sighted by EducationWeb.com.gh said the pilot training will be conducted in three Regions including Ashanti, Eastern and Central Region. About 20,000 girls will benefit from the training in each region
The programme focus on the Cyber Security Act 2020 is aimed at providing ICT education to girls in the second cycle institutions as well as equip them with basic cyber security fundamentals to help them stay safe in cyberspace.
Starting in Ashanti Region, Wesley Girls SHS, Yaa Asantewaa SHS, St Louis, Serwaa Nyarko, Kumasi Girls, the Adventist Girls SHS, St Mary’s Girls, Afua Kobi Ampem Girls, St Monica’s, TI Ahmadiya and Prince of Peace are beneficiary schools.
In the Eastern Region, Senior High Schools (SHSs) to benefit from the intensive ICT training are Mamfe Methodist Girls, Aburi Girls, Krobo Girls, Diaspora Girls, St Roses, Islamic Girls and St Mary’s Vocational and Technical Institute.
Holy Child, Wesley Girls and Mfantseman Girls in the Central Region will also benefit from the programme. Female Colleges of Education in the selected Regions will also benefit from the ongoing cyber security training.
Topics to be treated at the Senior High Schools Girls in ICT program include the Child Online Protection Provisions in the New Cyber Security Act 2020 and the SMART Acronym which explains how to stay safe online.
The prospective Senior High Schools (SHSs) girls in the three selected Regions will also be trained on risks associated with the use of the internet which includes fake news; cyberbullying, sextortion, cyber stalking among others.
On the Cyber Security Point of Contact, they would be sensitised on the need to report all cyber-related issues confronting them to the National Cyber Security Authority on shortcode 292 for a prompt response and assistance.
The Minister for Communications, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful in a short address said the initiative forms part of efforts to continue empowering the youth with the digital skills they urgently need to thrive in the new technological era.
She expressed hope that girls in the near future would improve ICT education in Ghana. The Girls-in-ICT is an initiative of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), aimed at introducing young girls to basic ICT skills.