School Security, Minister Kumbaro Says Cameras Are Designed for Prevention, Not Only Incident Investigation

The national “Smart City” initiative was introduced in the presence of Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro, and Minister of Interior Besfort Lamallari.
The Ministry of Education’s top priority, according to Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro, is to establish a secure educational environment in which all children feel secure, equal, and encouraged to learn and develop.
Minister Kumbaro stated that the “Smart City” project is designed to establish an intelligent security system that can identify and mitigate risks prior to their occurrence during the presentation. She emphasized that the purpose of footage from cameras installed in public areas within schools is not solely to serve as evidence for investigations following incidents, but rather to prevent them.
Kumbaro stated, “We are developing a system that monitors the territory to promote safety and health. The footage captured by these cameras is not solely used as an investigative tool after an incident has occurred, but rather as a preventative measure.”
Minister Kumbaro clarified that the education system currently depends on the work of school security officers, psychologists, and social workers in addition to teachers to ensure the well-being of children. She stated that technology will enhance the effectiveness of this support network by enabling professionals to intervene in time and prevent conflicts. “I am delighted that initiatives like ‘Smart City’ foster innovation and establish the groundwork for the development of a new security dimension that acts prior to the occurrence of a problem.” Currently, our educational system is supported by the efforts of 1,183 psychologists and social workers, as well as 329 security officers, in addition to the teaching staff. This demonstrates that our primary investment remains in individuals. Technology is introduced to fortify this support network, not to supplant it. Kumbaro emphasized that it will provide all of these professionals with the requisite information to intervene earlier, prevent conflicts, and make communication the most effective tool of education.
The Minister stated that the vision for safe schools has increased the engagement of educational institutions this year and expanded programs such as the “After School Programme” and the “Summer School” initiative, while reducing reliance on technology alone. “We do not want children to be surveilled; we want them to be educated,” she stated. Consequently, we are committed to fostering the development of the educated citizens of tomorrow by collaborating with partners and institutions in the fields of art, culture, and sports to develop programs that envision the school as a comprehensive space for education, entertainment, creativity, sports, and skills development. This includes initiatives such as the ‘After School Programme’, the ‘Summer School’, which we have recently completed in 47 schools, and the initiative banning the use of mobile phones during class hours. Our vision is to transform the conscience of every individual into their own ‘camera.'” Kumbaro stated.
The national “Smart City” project is designed to establish an integrated system for the intelligent monitoring and management of security in schools, public spaces, and road traffic, in accordance with the strategic priorities of the Albanian Government, which include the digitalization of public services, innovation, and the use of Artificial Intelligence to support public security. The project will provide cameras to 20 schools as part of the initial phase.