Education Minister commits to providing CCTV cameras for primary schools

 

Education and Youth Minister Fayval Williams has committed to the installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in primary schools.

 

The commitment follows the abduction and murder of eight-year-old Danielle Rowe.

 

Danielle was taken from Braeton Primary and Infant school in Portmore, St. Catherine last Thursday and found with her throat slashed in St. Andrew.

 

She died in hospital on Saturday.

 

Speaking at a special devotion at the school Monday, Mrs Williams said the CCTV initiative will start at Braeton Primary School. 

 

"We have generally reserved CCTV or safety cameras for high schools, especially those in vulnerable areas. But this morning, having seen what has happened here at this very quiet primary and infant school, we have to begin to increase the safety and security at our primary schools. And so we will begin deploying cameras, in particular, at the entrance of schools," she announced. 

 

Mrs Williams said the ministry will continue to deploy the strictest safety and security measures in schools.

       

 

Mayor of Portmore Leon Thomas said the political directorate in the municipality has pledged to install CCTV cameras at all primary schools without the devices.

 

Mr. Thomas, who was also addressing the special devotion at Braeton Primary and Infant School on Monday morning, said some schools are already equipped with the devices. 

 

"We have started in some of the primary schools already, Minister.... So what we're going to do, we are going to now look at the ones that don't have the cameras, and we are going to make the recommendation or send the information to you, so that we can work together to cover these primary schools," he said. 

 

 

Stewart Jacobs, President of the National Parent Teachers' Association of Jamaica, has called for immediate changes to the national school security policy to ensure greater protection of children while at school.

 

He said the implementation of much-needed safety measures can no longer be delayed. 

 

"There has to be a concerted effort, beginning now, that the school security policy be reviewed with more vigilance and an aggressive attempt be made to fix it almost immediately. I don't want to hear anything about the cost from the minister or the ministers. I don't want to hear anything about budget. This is children's lives you're talking about. And there has to be the securing of school premises," he demanded. 

 

Mr. Jacobs said in addition to the use of CCTV cameras, there should be stricter practices in place for how children are picked up from and dropped off at school. 

 

"It should be a policy, standard security at exit [and] entry into every school, where you're searched, questions are asked, you're recorded in, you're recorded out, cameras in, cameras out, and that there is some idea as to where you're taking the child to, and all of that."

 

He also suggested that parents should provide permission slips if they are sending someone else to collect their children. 

 

"It shouldn't be taken for granted that any vehicle can drive onto our school premises and drive off with a child to murder the child," he lamented. 

 

Mr. Jacobs was a guest Monday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106.