https://padlet.com/anilsinghsona/3ye27vak20bgjhn3 Q1: To what extent should security in Singapore schools be enhanced? Q2: Share one or two key takeaway(s)/insight(s) you got from reading the news article by Goh (2021). en-us 2023-01-28 11:01:54 UTC 2025-04-24 09:34:09 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f3eb.png https://padlet.com/anilsinghsona/3ye27vak20bgjhn3/wish/2460343905 I believe security in schools should be enhanced.

Following the River Valley High School incident, the concern at primary and secondary levels increases as children at these schools are more vulnerable. Apart from having teachers take on additional roles, schools can invite security agencies to share and educate children on basic security. These outreach programmes could assists schools with topics such as the identification of dangerous and prohibited items, reporting to teachers if their friends bring those items to school etc. As students spend a lot of time together, it would be good if the students are educated on security matters so that they are aware and would be able to help schools in identifying potential "threats/risk". ]]> 2023-01-29 15:03:38 UTC https://padlet.com/anilsinghsona/3ye27vak20bgjhn3/wish/2460343905 https://padlet.com/anilsinghsona/3ye27vak20bgjhn3/wish/2460353776 I feel that security in schools should be enhanced to a certain extent. 

I believe that security in schools should not be made into something like what is seen in today's airports where there are body searches and metal detectors.

However, I would advocate for having better trained security guards to watch out for potential dangers in addition to those security guards whose job scopes are mainly administrative (recording of visitors and cars entering etc)

Furthermore, teachers can also be sent for training to recognize certain potential signs to enable distressed students to be spotted and sent for possible treatment/counselling early. ]]> 2023-01-29 15:19:06 UTC https://padlet.com/anilsinghsona/3ye27vak20bgjhn3/wish/2460353776 https://padlet.com/anilsinghsona/3ye27vak20bgjhn3/wish/2461037678 Hi Dr Anil & classmates,

In my opinion, following the River Valley incident, there is a new form of threat/risk that schools have to be concern about. Hence, the security measures in schools must be enhanced following such threats of students carrying offensive weapons (i.e., knives, knuckle duster, karambit, machete) which can be used to hurt/attack others.

However, unlike in the U.S., the River Valley incident was a very rare or unlikely incident to happen here. It means that the risk of such incident to happen is very low. Nevertheless, if such cases reoccur,  the affected schools, MOE and the relevant security agencies will be scrutinized for failing to prevent/overcome such known risk. 
 
Like businesses, MOE and schools needs to perform "cost-benefit analysis" to decide on the extent of security measures to be in placed. Many factors have to be examined, such as budgets, level of risks, and balancing security needs without causing stress to students and teachers, and affecting the ideal environment of a school have to put into considerations.

Below are our suggestions and their respective challenges. 

Security-minded approach
In response to the above-mentioned threats, we proposed to deploy security officers to physically screen students, teachers or any personnel entering the premise by using baggage X-Ray machine & walk-through metal detector to prevent any unlawful equipment and offensive weapons from entering school premise.

We opted for this measure because the screening methods are effective and are widely used in all secured places, such as airports, government institutions and large corporations to prevent any individuals with illegal/harmful/dangerous items from entering their premise. Furthermore, we believe these measures also helped to control other disciplinary issues and minimizes deviant behaviors' in students, such as bringing contraband items in schools (i.e., cigarettes, lighters, vapes, or even drugs) which in turn brings bad influences to others. 

Although, these measures seems ideal to mitigate the targeted risks (illegal possession of offensive weapons), we found that they bring about several practical challenges on the ground.

They are:
- Cost of procuring, installing, and maintaining the machines for all schools and employing more security personnel in school to conduct screenings may not be cost-effective following the low risk of such threats.

- Screening process consume time and may affect school activities (i.e., delaying morning assembly, national anthem, creates long que of students)

- Increasing physical security in school may send a wrong signal or perception, such as schools are unsafe or very vulnerable to threats! In turn, alarming parents and students due to perceived threats.

- May induce fear to students and affect school environment and their learning experience.

Other potential security measures:

- Install security cameras with Human Behaviour Detection System(HBEDS) at selected locations (i.e., toilets or any enclosed area). The cameras can detect aggressive behaviour/movements and send out alarms. Aggressive behaviour/movements are actions that are involved in fights and assault, such as punches, swinging, kicks, etc.

Advantage:
- Early detection and response to incidents (i.e., fighting, bullying, assaulting)
- Strong deterrence for committing offences

Challenges/Disadvantage:
- Intruding Privacy
- Costly

links:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/why-it-matters-cna/breaking-prison-fights-ai-1515421   

Other approaches to enhance security in schools.

On top of the existing infrastructural and physical security (i.e., CCTVs, fences, gates and security personnel) to control access into the premise, all schools have "Emergency Structures" and integrated emergency preparedness programmes to train staffs and students to respond to contigencies and civil emergencies.

To enhance security following River Valley incident, schools can consider the following:

Establish Emergency Response Structure
- To define roles and responsibilities of each teachers/staffs when activated for emergency such as the River Valley Incident. For instance, assigning the role of First-aid responders, SCDF & SPF liaison officer, negotiation officer to the respective teachers/staffs to speed up the response time to, save lives, and minimise damages/threats.   

Staff trainings
- Sending teachers, staffs and security personnel to incident management training, so they have the capability to respond and make decisions when such incident occurs
- Trained with basic negotiation skills
- Trained to spot early signs of red flags, distress in students.
- Trained to create a trusting environment that focuses on the student's well-being and showing compassion for their school and life challenges. This may help students to feel welcome and will approach/or open-up to their teachers when feeling distress. 

Security teams
- Perform patrols
- Work closely with school for information/tip-offs on illegal/harmful activities within the school and surrounding school areas.
 
Educating students
- Create awareness of such incidents that may occur in schools
- Remind students to be vigilant and alert relevant authorities when they spot any abnormalities
- Conduct terror attack drills

Ok that's all for now.

These are our suggestions. Thanks for reading!



 ]]> 2023-01-30 08:35:23 UTC https://padlet.com/anilsinghsona/3ye27vak20bgjhn3/wish/2461037678