KINGSTON, Jamaica – The installation of closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) has started at the Braeton Primary and Infant School in St Catherine.

Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams made the revelation during a special devotion held in acknowledgement of the National Day of Mourning for Jamaica’s Children, at the primary school on Friday, June 23. The day was used to raise awareness of cases of child abuse in all forms.

READ: WATCH: Jamaica observes National Day of Mourning for children

“In the assessment that was done, eight cameras were installed. It was reported that there are still eight blind spots here on the property, and so, already, the central ministry is in the procurement process for an additional eight,” the minister informed.

The ministry’s objective is to fit all schools with CCTVs in order to deter or capture the actions of perpetrators who abuse the nation’s children.

READ: CCTV cameras to be installed at primary schools – Williams

This comes after the murder of eight-year-old Danielle Rowe, a student from the institution. Rowe died after she was abducted from school and her throat slashed.

READ: 8-y-o girl abducted from school in Portmore, throat slashed

Highlighting the need for the country to do more in protecting its most vulnerable, Williams said the data on child abuse in the island is a cause for concern. She said the most recent annual report from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) shows the entity responded to 12,604 cases of abuse in one year.

“If that does not shock us…, I don’t know what will. That is one in every 40 children. The figures are telling us that one child in every classroom across Jamaica has been abused,” the minister noted. “There is clearly a need for a whole-of-Jamaica approach for caring for our children. We must get better at recognising the signs that something is about to go wrong before it actually goes wrong.”