Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras will be installed in all primary schools and will be monitored by a private security firm, says Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh.

Gopeesingh was speaking at Thursday's post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.

Gopeesingh said open tenders will go out for the provision of these CCTV cameras, as well as the provision of Wifi access to schools, dedicated fibre optics and a television communication channel dedicated for education.

Government, he said, is proposing to spend some $40 to $50 million for these initiatives that will make schools more technologically savvy.

He pointed out that some $250 million is spent annually on security for schools and the implementation of the CCTV cameras will result in some savings.

The cameras, he added, will also reduce the number of break-ins to schools as the entire system will be monitored by a security company that could provide rapid response.

With respect to the education communication channel, Gopeesingh said the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre will be utilised as the "mecca" for producing a number of educational information programmes.

Gopeesingh also disclosed that all laptops for form one secondary school pupils this year were distributed.

He noted that in 2010, when the People's Partnership entered office and delivered on this promise to provide laptops to pupils, the cost was at $83 million.

In 2011 some $50 million was spent for the purchase and distribution of laptops.

The company Digi Data, said Gopeesingh, was awarded the contract this year to provide the laptops and they did so at a reduced cost—$1 million less than last year's figure.

Gopeesingh also announced that Cabinet approved an increase to the annual subvention grant to the Trinidad and Tobago national council of parent teacher associations from $150,000 to $250,000.