In a bid to improve safety and security in schools, the government will be installing closed-circuit television systems (CCTV) in high schools across the country, starting with six this academic year. This is in addition to the plan to install CCTV at the entrances of all primary schools.
The number of restorative justice sessions will also increase with 500 schools being targeted for restorative justice practices this year.
In addition, the government is spending $73M on perimeter security fencing for 56 schools this financial year and has also trained an additional 30 School Resource Officers (SROs) who have taken up duties this academic year.
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Govt Moving to Improve Safety and Security in Schools
In a bid to improve safety and security in schools, the government will be installing closed-circuit television systems (CCTV) in high schools across the country, starting with six this academic year. This is in addition to the plan to install CCTV systems at the entrances of all primary schools.
The high schools slated to receive the CCTV equipment are Papine High in St. Andrew, Denham Town High in Kingston, Grange Hill High in Westmoreland, Oracabessa High in St. Mary, Eltham High in Catherine and Hopewell High in Hanover.
Speaking in Parliament on June 13, 2023, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness said the security procedures at public schools will be reviewed, particularly the protocols for collecting students. The comment came against the background of the abduction and murder of 8-year-old Danielle Rowe from the Braeton Primary and Infant School in Portmore, St. Catherine.
“It is not the practice in all our schools. Some people believe it is too much of an imposition on them, but where we are now in our society where the general good-naturedness of our people cannot be taken for granted… we have to put these security measures in place,” Mr. Holness said.
“Massive investments are going to be made in that. In fact, the Government will move to make it such that all public entities must have closed-circuit cameras at the entrance and exit to their public service space, which will include schools,” the Prime Minister continued.
The number of restorative justice sessions will also increase, with 500 schools being targeted for restorative justice practices this year. An additional 30,000 students, parents and educators are set to be trained in the sessions. Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams said “restorative justice practices training is [intended] to equip stakeholders in the educational system with conflict-management skills as a strategy to reduce the incidence of violence in schools.”
On another matter, Mrs. Williams said 58 school leaders have been trained under the Leadership for Safer Schools (LSS) initiative, funded by the European Union (EU) Spotlight Initiative. The government will also continue to have in schools a team of psychologists to provide guidance to students.
It has also hired 98 additional guidance counsellors, bringing the number to 1,016 while 129 Deans of Discipline are employed in schools island wide. The government says all high schools have been equipped with metal detectors and random searches will continue.
In addition, the government is spending $73 million on perimeter security fencing for 56 schools this financial year. Of this number, 10 have been carried forward while the remainder are in various stages of the design consultancy.
Regarding School Resource Officers (SROs), the police have trained over 300 since the inception of the programme in 2010, however attrition has seen the number of available officers falling over time. The latest batch of 30 just completed training in August in time for the new school year now underway. The 30 officers will cover Trelawny, St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland. Visits are paid to schools in the 19 police geographical divisions across the island at least three times per week.
The provision of School Resource Officers is the responsibility of the Community Safety and Security Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
