Moscow State University to Prepare Cybersecurity School Coursebook

Psychology and journalism researchers from the Moscow State University (MSU) will prepare a cybersecurity syllabus and coursebook for Russian schools, Yury Zinchenko, dean of the MSU psychology department, told Sputnik on Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The dean added that some elements of this course could be introduced starting in elementary school within the framework of a basic security course, traditionally studied in Russian schools.

"The psychology department alongside the journalism department voiced the initiative [on preparing the coursebook], the Ministry [of Education] supports [the idea] of having this extracurricular cybersecurity, Internet hygiene, course as well," Zinchenko said.

According to the head of MSU psychology department, the relevant program is currently being developed so that the coursebook could be based on it.

Zinchenko said that the first results could be expected in January-February 2018.

Cybersecurity is among top priorities of Russian policy. In March, prominent Russian lawmaker Irina Yarovaya sent a letter to the ministry of education proposing that cybersecurity lessons be added to the school curriculum, stating that safety skills taught in schools should be up-to-date with modern technologies. Russian Education Minister Olga Vasilyeva said in June that a cybersecurity course would be introduced in schools starting this year, adding that training programs would be developed for teachers.