Schools fitted with CCTV cameras have seen a noticeable drop in vandalism and other delinquent behaviour, mainly damage to school premises, Education Minister Athena Michailidou told the House Education Committee today.
The reduction follows the installation of CCTV systems at a number of schools across various areas in recent years, a measure adopted to prevent destruction and damage that had mainly occurred during afternoon and evening hours.
Michailidou briefed the committee generally on the new school year, and the issue of school violence and delinquency was raised during the session.
She said the installation of cameras at further schools is proceeding normally, based on existing planning and on data gathered partly from police.
Efforts to tackle such behaviour are not limited to cameras, Michailidou said, and also include pedagogical policies applied in schools. These include dedicated committees within schools, a strengthened role for school counsellors, and the placement of the first social workers, who will be based in specific schools from this year under a pilot programme.
