CCTV in Schools: An Examination of Perceived Value of Surveillance

Abstract

Concerns for security and academic performance have led to the increasing use of various surveillance technologies in educational institutions. This article reports an examination of the lived experiences and subjective insights of Nepali school administrators, teachers and students into the practice of closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras. This highlights the challenges of maintaining a surveillance system to minimize risk factors and to create an educational environment in schools. This article based on a qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with administrators, teachers and students at three urban schools to explore their perceived value of CCTV surveillance cameras in schools, and non-participant observation to strengthen the data gathered through interviews. Findings indicate that CCTV surveillance cameras in these schools were predominantly aimed at controlling students’ and teachers’ non-compliant behaviors to promote academic performance. While the study explored how these schools utilized surveillance technology to their advantages, findings contribute to the practical understandings that the technology is equally subject to misuse and can victimize children, given the lack of legal regulations in place.