NEGRIL, Hanover — It is far less than the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) wants but closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras will be installed at 15 more schools for the new school year.

Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams made the announcement a day after JTA head Leighton Johnson called for cameras to be placed in all schools. The minister said that such an undertaking, which would see the installation of 16 cameras at each school, would cost about $1.5 billion. She was unable to provide a price tag for cameras that will be installed soon at 15 schools.

Williams said that in addition to providing new cameras, an assessment has also been done of those already in place and repairs will be made as needed.

“We’ve done the survey, as well, of existing schools that have cameras to see whether they are working or not,” she said.

The minister was addressing the final day of the JTA’s 59th annual conference on Wednesday.

While cameras have been traditionally reserved for high schools, a recent incident at Braeton Primary school in St Catherine set off a clamour for that approach to be revisited. Following the horrific death of eight-year-old Danielle Rowe, who was abducted from school and her throat slashed in June, the minister said CCTV cameras would be installed at the entrances of primary schools.

During a question-and-answer session at the JTA conference on Wednesday, St Thomas teacher Marjorie Harris asked for an update.

In response Williams said her ministry had worked with stakeholders at the school and took immediate steps to have additional cameras installed at the school. However, the process is yet to be completed as the project is now going through the procurement process.

“That was not just talk after that very horrific situation. We have taken action,” she assured.