The Digital Ministry is set to roll out its National Cyber Ethics Module (ESN) in schools across Malaysia by January 2026. According to its minister, Gobind Singh Deo, it aims to raise awareness and understanding of online safety and ethics among students.
Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education as part of the government’s whole-of-government approach, the ESN is designed to nurture responsible and ethical online behaviour among children in light of the growing use of digital games and online platforms. Gobind notes that the module will offer comprehensive guidance on social media and Internet use, covering six key areas: Digital Fluency, Digital Ethics, Digital Health and Well-being, Digital Commerce, Digital Privacy and Security, and Digital Rights and Responsibilities.
The digital minister clarified that the ESN forms part of the existing CyberSAFE in Schools programme, which was handed over to the Education Ministry in July this year. CyberSecurity Malaysia will continue to serve as a technical partner, contributing expertise in cybersecurity, technical training and curriculum development, as well as monitoring and evaluating the module’s effectiveness.
A pilot phase of the module is currently underway in selected schools nationwide. Gobind says insights from this phase will be used to refine and strengthen the ESN before its full-scale rollout next year. Meanwhile, online training sessions for Education Ministry officers involved in the module’s implementation are expected to begin in December.
(Source: Digital Ministry press release)
