Following an increase in break-ins at public schools, the Ministry of Education is moving to install security cameras at public schools across the territory. Photo: securityri.com

Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL), right, has said metal detectors are being procured for Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS). Photo: Facebook

Metal detectors were introduced at Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) by a local security firm in January 2013, but subsequently discontinued. Photo: VINO/File

This was disclosed by Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Honourable Sharie B. de Castro at a press conference in observance of Education Month today, March 4, 2025.

“Recently, we have had an increase among persons unfortunately breaking into schools. This has happened in the evening hours on a number of our school communities and while we have requested support from the police, in terms of increased patrols, we have invested in security cameras to be able to monitor our schools, security systems that will alert us and allow us to ensure our schools are safe,” Honourable de Castro related.

The Education Minister noted that Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) already has some security cameras but the Ministry will be seeking to install more, including around the perimeters of the campus.

Hon de Castro noted too that her Ministry has invested in some “specific security locks” for school doors, “so that we can also ensure security measures in the event of an emergency.”

Metal detectors

With the issue of students bring weapons to school, Hon de Castro said one of the deterrents will be the use of metal detectors.

She said there are already some handheld metal detectors at Elmore Stoutt High School; however, more will be procured and she also suggested that walk-through metal detectors will also be used.

“It is our expectation this year to implement metal detectors. As you know we have had an increased amount of unfortunate misbehaviour, violence in schools, weapons and drugs being transmitted on campuses, so we are investing in ensuring that we purchase these machines that will give us the ability to detect any harmful weapons or drugs that are entering our school campuses.”

Hon de Castro said the use of metal detectors at schools is “something that we have wrestled with for a number of years but given our stakeholder consultation with our teachers, administrators and our parents we believe that it is a critical step, a critical preventative step to move forward to ensure safety in our schools.”

She said her ministry is looking at procuring the metal detectors and expects to have them “on the ground and implemented” this year.

Hon de Castro said; however, the challenge with ESHS is bigger than metal detectors. “We have to properly enclose the school. So, we already have some stuff out to tender to really finalise the wall so that the school infrastructure around the school is secured, thereby not allowing individuals, drugs, and weapons not to enter the campus."