Standardised Protocols for Regular Review of CCTV Footage in Government Primary Schools to Minimise Physical and Sexual Abuse of Students

86 Mr Darryl David asked the Minister for Education whether there are any standardised protocols in place for the regularly reviewing of CCTV footage in Government primary schools to minimise the risk of physical and sexual abuse of students, especially those who are younger in age.

Mr Desmond Lee: The Ministry of Education (MOE) employs various measures to ensure the safety and well-being of students in all primary schools. School personnel are trained to identify signs of distress in our students, check in on their well-being and report suspected abuse to School Leaders. From Primary 1, students are taught about personal safety and boundaries and the different forms of abuse. They are taught to protect themselves in physical and online spaces and how to report their concerns and seek help from trusted adults.

Classroom doors are kept open and air-conditioned rooms have viewing windows. Coaches and instructors are also briefed on the expectations of professional conduct, which include maintaining clear instructor-student boundaries and refraining from being alone in an enclosed room or secluded space with a student.

When looking into incidents of suspected abuse, schools review available CCTV footage, but it is not practical for schools to regularly review CCTV footage to try to pick up potential abuse as CCTVs tend to be installed in high-traffic areas.

MOE will continue to review safety measures in schools to ensure that they remain effective and relevant.