reaching over 300 students in Region Seven

THE National Data Management Authority (NDMA) recently wrapped up its Cyber Road Show at Three Miles Secondary and Bartica Secondary Schools at Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), reaching over 300 students. This outreach, part of NDMA’s ongoing national effort to boost digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness, aims to prepare students to navigate the digital landscape with safety and responsibility.

Led by NDMA’s Cybersecurity Division, the sessions focused on critical aspects of cyber safety, including cyberbullying, cyber-grooming, and the repercussions of irresponsible online behaviour. By emphasising these topics, NDMA hopes to foster safer online practices and encourage students to understand the impact of their digital actions.

Daniel Williams, Head Teacher of Three Miles Secondary School, praised the programme as timely and necessary, especially in view of the issues arising from social media use among students. “We’ve looked forward to this kind of initiative. A significant concern here is conflicts that start on social media and escalate offline. By educating our students on cyber awareness and the importance of online behaviour, we can prevent many of these incidents,” Williams explained, adding that though Bartica is remote, its students are regularly exposed to internet risks.

Bartica Secondary’s Headmistress, Teerani Gamell, agreed, highlighting the value of the training as more students engage on social media without necessarily knowing safe cyber practices. “This workshop is timely: it helps build self-awareness and encourages students to use social media as a positive influence. The training is invaluable not only for students, but also for teachers and the broader community, helping foster better communication and stronger relationships,” Gamell noted.

The Cyber Road Show is part of a larger series of NDMA activities that take place each year as part of Cybersecurity Month. Feedback from students, teachers, and community leaders over the past five years has continually affirmed the need for this type of outreach, reinforcing NDMA’s commitment to spreading cybersecurity knowledge and safe internet practices across the nation.

This year’s NDMA Cyber Road Show underscores the authority’s mission to foster a culture of responsible internet use, particularly for youth in hinterland, remote, and riverine communities. By equipping them with the knowledge to recognise and combat cyber threats, The NDMA is working towards building a more cyber-aware society, where all citizens can benefit safely from the digital world.