By SEAN DOUGLAS Friday, February 29 2008

CLOSED-CIRCUIT television (CCTV) cameras are set to be introduced to 35 high-risk schools, said Minister of Education, Esther Le Gendre, at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall.

She expressed her regret at Tuesday’s murder of Shaquille Roberts, a Form Five student of Success/Laventille Composite School by another student and announced steps to reduce the chances of any such recurrence.

“I will also take to Cabinet shortly a proposal relating to the introduction of an electronic-monitoring system for schools using an Internet protocol which allows for remote operation of high quality cameras by specially-trained MTS security personnel. The system has links to both the police service and fire service, as well as to MTS headquarters.” She said the system was piloted at Barataria Senior Secondary Comprehensive School and once approved it would be placed at all high-risk schools. An MTS document released to the media said CCTV cameras using the Internet as a backbone rather than dedicated point-to-point cabling are intended for 35 secondary schools. Each school would receive ten cameras giving 24-hour coverage. Each school would also have ten wireless panic buttons. Le Gendre said since Tuesday the ministry has increased security at Success/Composite school searches of the students school-bags have been stepped up.

“We wish to make it clear that violence and indiscipline will not be tolerated in our schools.” She said a report due today from the school’s management would be used to consult school- principals, MTS and TTUTA and review the system of school-security. Le Gendre named a committee set up to study school violence/indiscipline and to revise the ministry’s interventions which would be chaired by Steve Williams. Members include UWI’s Prof Ramesh Deosaran, MTS CEO Lennox Rattansingh, Families in Action head Ivis Gibson, Ministry of Social Development PS Antonia Popplewell, TTUTA president Roustan Job, retired ACP Winston Cooper, and psychologist Dr Dorrel Philips.