Department prioritises cyber safety and security

CYBER safety and security are integral to any education curriculum, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Department deputy secretary Flierl Shongol says.
He said it was part of the department’s plan to incorporate cyber safety and security in the country’s educational curriculum to promote better use of technology.
“We are yet to initiate the process but it is in our plan to work closely with the Education Department to ensure cyber safety and security are an integral part of the curriculum.
“Institutions are already providing computer studies and basic skills for internet research, but cyber security is one of the areas that we are focusing on. It is part of the overall information technology concept to assist young people develop a niche around cyber security and safety,” Shongol added.
He said this initiative was part of the department’s roadmap identifying six pillars as the foundation of digital transformation.
One of the pillars was digital skills.
“It’s basically imparting the skills that citizens require in order to utilise technology and services it provides.
“We need to incorporate digital transformation, particularly the skills on cyber safety and security as an integral part of the education component.
“This is to ensure upcoming generations can use these technologies responsibly and how technology can also help them self-develop,” Shongol said.
He told The National that one of ICT’s biggest challenges was on reaching institutions in the rural areas.
“We have connected and covered 87 per cent of our population, and we need to go that extra mile.
“It is not about the landmass, but the population that matters.
“Industry operators are telling us that we have already reached 80 per cent of the population, which can possibly mean we already have PNG connected,” Shongol added.