Schools asked to encourage students, teachers, and parents to complete a cyber hygiene certificate course, establish Cyber Clubs, and observe monthly Cyber Jagrookta Diwas
Recognising the growing cyber risks faced by children in the digital age, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has launched a nationwide initiative to strengthen cyber hygiene and internet safety awareness across its affiliated schools.
Through a recent circular, CBSE has instructed schools to encourage students, teachers, and parents to enrol in a 2.5-hour Cyber Hygiene Certificate Course developed by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The initiative aims to build awareness about responsible online behaviour and equip school communities with practical skills to identify and prevent cyber threats.
What is the Cyber Hygiene Certificate Course?
The Cyber Hygiene Certificate Course is a short online programme designed to educate participants about safe and responsible use of digital technologies.
Rather than focusing only on computer skills, the course covers everyday practices that help individuals protect themselves from cyber threats while using the internet.
The course focuses on:
- Safe internet browsing
- Password security
- Data privacy and protection
- Responsible social media usage
- Identifying phishing and online scams
- Preventing cyberbullying
- Protecting personal information
- Digital citizenship and ethical online behaviour
The course is available through the I4C portal and is intended for students, teachers, and parents alike.
Why CBSE is Promoting Cyber Hygiene
With children spending increasing amounts of time online for education, communication, gaming, and entertainment, cyber threats have become more frequent and sophisticated.
According to CBSE, students today face risks such as:
- Cyberbullying
- Online grooming
- Identity theft
- Financial cyber fraud
- Fake websites and phishing attacks
- Social media misuse
- Online harassment
- Data breaches
The Board believes that awareness and preventive education are the most effective tools for protecting children from these digital dangers.
Key Components of the Initiative
1. Cyber Hygiene Certificate Course
Schools have been asked to motivate students, teachers, and parents to complete the 2.5-hour online certification programme to improve cyber awareness and safe online practices.
2. Formation of Cyber Clubs
CBSE has advised all affiliated schools to establish Cyber Clubs that will regularly conduct activities related to online safety.
These clubs are expected to:
- Organise awareness campaigns.
- Conduct interactive learning sessions.
- Promote responsible digital behaviour.
- Encourage peer-to-peer learning on cybersecurity.
Cyber Clubs will act as student-led platforms for spreading awareness about cyber hygiene within school communities.
3. Monthly ‘Cyber Jagrookta Diwas’
Schools have also been instructed to observe the first Wednesday of every month as Cyber Jagrookta Diwas (Cyber Awareness Day).
Suggested activities include:
- Quizzes
- Debates
- Poster-making competitions
- Speeches
- Awareness workshops
- Cyber safety pledge drives
The objective is to make cyber awareness a continuous learning process rather than a one-time activity.
4. Parent Participation
Recognising the important role families play in children’s online safety, CBSE has encouraged schools to actively involve parents.
Schools have been asked to:
- Circulate a Cyber Safety Pledge for parents to sign.
- Share cyber safety advisories through parent portals.
- Encourage parents to complete the Cyber Hygiene Course.
- Promote discussions on responsible internet use at home.
This collaborative approach aims to create a safer digital environment both inside and outside the classroom.
Additional Awareness Resources
To support schools in implementing the initiative, CBSE has recommended the use of various educational resources developed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and I4C.
These include:
- Cybercrime awareness comic books.
- Educational posters and advisories.
- Awareness videos.
- Interactive “Cyber Awareness Snake & Ladder” game.
- Social media updates from CyberDost, the government’s cyber awareness initiative.
Schools have also been encouraged to integrate cyber awareness into annual events, parent-teacher meetings, newsletters, and digital communication platforms.
Alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
The initiative aligns closely with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes the importance of digital literacy, responsible technology use, and preparing students for a technology-driven future.
By introducing cyber hygiene education at the school level, CBSE seeks to develop informed digital citizens who can safely navigate online environments while protecting their privacy and well-being.
Expected Benefits
The cyber hygiene initiative is expected to generate multiple long-term benefits.
For Students
- Better awareness of cyber threats.
- Safer internet browsing habits.
- Protection against online fraud and cyberbullying.
- Responsible use of social media.
- Stronger digital citizenship skills.
For Teachers
- Improved ability to guide students on online safety.
- Enhanced understanding of cyber risks in education.
- Better integration of digital safety into classroom learning.
For Parents
- Greater awareness of children’s online activities.
- Improved ability to identify cyber threats.
- Stronger collaboration with schools in ensuring online safety.
Why Cyber Hygiene Matters Today
As education, communication, banking, entertainment, and social interaction increasingly shift online, cyber hygiene has become as essential as personal hygiene in protecting individuals from digital risks.
Simple practices such as using strong passwords, avoiding suspicious links, enabling multi-factor authentication, updating software regularly, and protecting personal information can significantly reduce exposure to cybercrime.
Experts believe that introducing these habits during school years can create lifelong digital responsibility and resilience.
Looking Ahead
CBSE’s cyber hygiene initiative marks an important step toward integrating cybersecurity awareness into mainstream school education. By involving students, teachers, and parents, the programme adopts a community-wide approach to promoting safe digital behaviour.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, initiatives like the Cyber Hygiene Certificate Course, Cyber Clubs, and Cyber Jagrookta Diwas are expected to play a vital role in equipping young learners with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
