Audit To Be Conducted On Use Of Metal Detectors In Schools

Beginning Monday, March 28, the Ministry of Education and Youth will be conducting a full audit of the extent to which metal detectors are being used in public schools.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, says this will form part of the Ministry’s response to reduce the incidence of violence among students by detecting and confiscating implements, such as knives and scissors, which have figured in altercations, several of them fatal.

She was speaking during a semi-virtual press conference on school safety and security, on Friday (March 25).

The announcement comes in the wake of violent altercations occurring at several urban and rural schools since the start of the year, resulting in fatalities in two instances.

Mrs. Williams said the Ministry’s records show that 36 schools were selected to benefit from the installation of walk-through metal detectors, of which 27 were put in place prior to the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Minister pointed out, however, that the undertaking was interrupted by the pandemic.

Mrs. Williams advised that since the full resumption of face-to-face classes, the Ministry’s Safety and Security in Schools Unit has re-engaged the services of a provider to complete the installations.

She said the Unit also provided hand-held metal detectors to all public high schools, adding that as far as the Ministry is aware, “they are in pretty good working condition”.

“We still have some in our inventory and these will be made available to replace any defective device as the need arise,” she further informed.

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In this regard, the Minister said the audit of the metal detectors, which is expected to be carried out during the course of next week, is intended to identify any gaps relating to the provision and/or utilisation of these devices.

“We are directing our schools to use these daily as a preventative measure. To the extent that our schools are able to take away a knife or a [pair of] scissors or other implements [from students], it could save a life,” she emphasised.

Mrs. Williams said the Ministry has also asked school administrators to refer students from whom these implements are taken, for counselling.

“We know that many of our students are coming from homes that are broken [and] toxic. Many of our students are suffering from trauma from adults in the home. These are adults who should be protecting them, but instead, they are causing them mental harm. So, we are saying to our schools, it’s not enough to simply take away the implements. We must follow up with some counselling as well,” she added.

While acknowledging that the use of metal detectors will help to thwart the extent to which students bring dangerous implements to school with the intention to harm, Mrs. Williams said “we also know that that is just the beginning”.

“Once the students [exit] through the gates, violent altercations can erupt at any place, anytime. So, we have to depend on our school leaders and administrators… our teachers to be more vigilant [in monitoring them],” she urged.

Mrs. Williams said security cameras have also been useful in the process, noting that several schools installing these have reported reductions in altercations among students.

She advised that a technology provider wrote to the Ministry offering to assist one of the schools where students clashed earlier this year, by installing two CCTV cameras and providing hand-held metal detectors.

“I want to say thank you to that provider, and we want to encourage others to donate as well,” the Minister added.

Mrs. Williams informed that there are approximately 930 guidance counsellors and 130 deans of discipline currently serving the public school system.

“I will admit that these numbers are not enough, relative to the number of students we have. However, we have to utilise the ones we currently have until we are able to add more within the context of our budget,” she said.