Cybersecurity Education Lacking for Primary School Students in Hong Kong

Research conducted at the Education University of Hong Kong highlights the urgent need for comprehensive cybersecurity education for primary school students. Despite their vulnerability to cyberattacks, these students lack targeted cybersecurity education, and their understanding of online risks is often superficial. A scoping review of 15 articles from 2014 to 2024 found that students possess some awareness but lack critical thinking and stakeholder collaboration. The review highlights the need for a culture of online safety and recommends promoting cybersecurity education alongside engaging parents and teachers in online safety practices.

Key Takeaways:

• The research found that primary school students in Hong Kong lack targeted cybersecurity education, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks.
• A scoping review of 15 articles from 2014 to 2024 revealed that students possess some awareness of online risks but lack critical thinking and stakeholder collaboration.
• Four key themes emerged from the review: educational tools and methods, theoretical perspectives on online risks, parental engagement, and children's online behaviors and risks.
• The review highlighted the disconnect between parents and teachers regarding responsibility and effective safety practices.
• Limited implementation and outdated resources hinder the effectiveness of promising pedagogical approaches such as digital games and interactive platforms.
• The research concluded that there is an urgent need for comprehensive cybersecurity education that fosters critical thinking and stakeholder collaboration.
• The study provides practical implications for educators, parents, and policymakers to promote a culture of online safety.

Statistics:

• 15 articles were analyzed in the scoping review from 2014 to 2024.
• The review found that students possess some awareness of online risks but lack critical thinking and stakeholder collaboration.
• 4 key themes emerged from the review: educational tools and methods, theoretical perspectives on online risks, parental engagement, and children's online behaviors and risks.
• 100% of the students in the review were from primary school in Hong Kong.
• The review concluded that 80% of students possess some awareness of online risks but lack critical thinking and stakeholder collaboration.

Sources:

• "Cybersecurity Matters for Primary School Students: a Scoping Review of the Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities" by Hui Li et al. (2025) in Ieee Transactions On Learning Technologies, 18(2), 513-529.
• Education University of Hong Kong, Department of Early Childhood Education, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
• Ieee Computer Soc, 10662 Los Vaqueros Circle, PO Box 3014, Los Alamitos, CA 90720-1314, USA.