CLOSED CIRCUIT VIDEO CAMERAS IN SCHOOLS (Installation)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Dr Lau Teik Soon asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education his views concerning the installation of closed circuit video cameras in schools.

The Minister of State of Education (Dr Tay Eng Soon) (for the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education): The Ministry of Education does not install closed circuit television cameras in schools. The Member is probably referring to Manjusri Secondary School, The school, an aided-school, recently installed closed circuit TV cameras to try to improve the security of their car parks, technical workshops, the air-rifle range and the school field. The system was paid for by funds raised by the School's Management Committee.

Vandalism of school property, especially outside school hours, is a problem in a number of schools. But the Ministry has had to phase out night watchmen because it has become increasingly difficult to recruit such people. Improvements in fencing and physical security measures will help to reduce the incidence of vandalism. But I doubt if closed circuit TV is an effective answer to this problem.