The official opening of the CYBER.MIL class at the Janusz Korczak II General Secondary School in Bolesławiec took place on Friday, March 4. Principal Mirosław Sakowski:
Today we are opening a cybersecurity and new technologies laboratory at the II General Secondary School. Our school was accepted—not that we merely managed to get in—to this program as one of 16 schools in Poland.
The program will run for nine years. This is the fourth military class at II LO, but the first to have high-end equipment at its disposal, including 17 new computers and two tower servers worth nearly PLN 300,000. (The funds for their purchase were obtained from the budget of the Ministry of National Defence; PLN 56,000 was contributed by the Bolesławiec County Office).
Mirosław Horzempa, deputy county head of Bolesławiec:
I just thought that the principal has been ahead of the times with this class. Because what is happening in the world, especially during the war in Ukraine, is exactly your field. Wars are no longer won with tanks on the ground, but in cyberspace. I am very pleased that one of the first classes of this kind was established here in Bolesławiec, thanks to the commitment of the principal, the County, and especially the officers.
The equipment on which the 13 CYBER.MIL students will work has been configured to serve for years. This is a fully equipped computer laboratory. As emphasized by Dominika Dudziak-Gajowiak, head of the Department of Innovative Project Management at the General Tadeusz Kościuszko Military University of Land Forces in Wrocław:
Cybersecurity is a key issue now. And we can expect this matter to become increasingly important.
And she adds:
This school will produce well-prepared secondary-school graduates who, if they choose a career path connected with the Ministry of National Defence, will benefit the Armed Forces and the security of our Homeland.
Let us recall. In September last year, we reported that the start of the school year (September 1, 2021) coincided with the nationwide launch of the “CYBER MIL WITH THE CLASS” Program. It involves establishing a class specializing in “Cybersecurity and Modern Information Technologies.” The main aim of the program is to educate potential candidates for the personnel and scientific corps of the professional staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, particularly for the newly established Cyber Defence Forces.
The Ministry of National Defence set very high criteria, but as a result only the best of the best participate in the program. The class may have from 10 to 15 students, who will be able to acquire specific skills, while successful completion of the program will provide access to prestigious positions in units subordinate to the Ministry of National Defence.
The curriculum will cover such subject areas as the fundamentals of cryptography, the history of cryptography, the fundamentals of algorithmics, the fundamentals of cybersecurity, and data and information security management. Studying in such a class will enable students to acquire knowledge and competencies concerning contemporary digital threats, cybersecurity risk management, information-system security, and the cryptographic aspects of data protection.
The training will include theoretical and practical classes using modern operating systems and symbolic-computation packages. Remote e-learning classes are also planned, as well as study visits to Ministry of National Defence units, research institutes, and companies in the cybersecurity sector.
The Office for the “Become a Soldier of the Republic of Poland” Program—already experienced in conducting this type of educational project—is responsible for coordinating and implementing the program. Substantive supervision will be provided by the National Cyberspace Security Centre and the Military University of Technology.
This is a major success for Bolesławiec County and the school, which was accepted into the program as one of 16 schools from across Poland (one from each voivodeship).