In response to the rapid increase in digital usage among children and young people, the Ministry of Digital has announced the National Cyber Ethics Malaysia (ESN) programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. This program is set to be implemented starting in January 2026.
The ESN will be a guidance for students through six key areas:
- Digital Fluency
- Digital Ethics
- Digital Health & Well-being
- Digital Commerce
- Digital Privacy & Security
- Digital Rights and Responsibilities
A pilot phase of the ESN programme is already underway in selected schools, enabling feedback and refinement before this programme implemented in all schools. The training for relevant officers in the Ministry of Education will begin to ensure smooth rollout.
CyberSecurity Malaysia, is the technical partner for the programme which will supply expertise on emerging online threats especially those linked to generative AI, online gaming and chatbot applications.
In the era where children’s screen time is increasing and digital games and social media plays a large role in their lives, the government’s move recognizes that education system must adapt to these situation. Digital Minister, Gobind Singh Deo stated that this is not about restricting digital use but to ensure children are learning and adopting safe digital practices.
Source: Vanakkam Malaysia
