AWARENESS OF CYBERSECURITY MEASURES AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Cybersecurity awareness is a crucial competency that enables students to maintain safety and security in the online environment, safeguard their personal data, and cultivate responsible digital citizenship. There are various risks arising from the use of technology that impact students’ motivation and cognitive abilities. In this regard, it is essential to make teachers aware of cybersecurity knowledge, as it can enhance students' psychological well-being, promote self-efficacy in digital learning, and improve their academic performance. The main purpose of the study is to find out the understanding of teachers regarding cybersecurity awareness and also check out the need and awareness of cybersecurity indicators for teachers and students. This research has the potential to offer significant insights into enhancing the design and execution of cybersecurity education initiatives, thereby fostering the safety, security, and responsible utilization of digital technologies. Descriptive research design was used in this study. Research survey was used in this regard. Faculty of social sciences including education department were participated in this study. Faculty teachers from multiple universities were included in this research.  A simple random sampling technique was used in this regard. A questionnaire was self constructed regarding the context of teacher’s awareness and its extent of usage of cybersecurity awareness, online practices, cyberbullying protection awareness, digital communication, critical thinking and cyber security risks related knowledge, strategies for safe and responsible online behaviour, social media risks and digital literacy related awareness and students learning. Tool was validated with the help of relevant educational experts, and also checked the reliability consistency by Cronbach alpha value. Data was collected by the participants and research data was entered in software for package of social sciences (SPSS) for get the results. Descriptive statistics including Mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics including chi square test for independent variables were used to get the results regarding teachers’ awareness and its usage of these measures with in the classroom and students learning. The results revealed that there is no significant association among teachers' awareness regarding cybersecurity awareness measures for students. It is recommended to the institutions might include cybersecurity instruction in the curriculum, which would help students by giving them the tools they need to stay secure online. It is also proposed the heads to access cybersecurity training programs within the institutions for teachers’ awareness.