KINGSTON, Jamaica — As Jamaica’s Data Protection Act (DPA) brings sweeping change to how organisations manage personal data, Securys Jamaica Limited is urging schools to sign up for their data protection programme.

“The Privacy in Education (PiE) programme provides schools with a clear, multi-year roadmap to compliance. It begins with a privacy posture and exposure review to assess current risks, followed by a customised remediation roadmap. Each participating school is assigned a dedicated data protection officer to guide implementation,” Securys explained.

“The programme includes staff training and awareness workshops, assistance with developing data protection policies and procedures tailored to the school environment, and sensitisation sessions with key stakeholders including parents, students, and suppliers,” it continued.

Describing schools as one of the most vulnerable and underserved sectors, Securys indicated it recently extended the deadline for cohort one registration in the PiE programme to July 25.

The company said schools need only provide basic information to register and assured that no payment is required at this stage. It stressed that after July 25, registration will close until January 2026, which it said could leave schools exposed during the interim.

The company detailed why it matters that schools employ these kinds of services now.

“The law is already in effect, and enforcement is coming. This isn’t about checking a box, it’s about leadership and trust,” said Andre Palmer, head of practice at Securys Jamaica. “We’re making compliance practical and affordable so schools can take decisive action now, not later.”

Securys said non-compliance carries real risks including fines of up to four per cent of annual turnover, reputational damage and disruptions to school operations.

The company indicated that five-year pricing is fixed and aligned with academic cycles, “ensuring affordability and predictability in budgeting”.