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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Student database to be created | Student database to be created |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Every 14-year-old in England will have their personal details and exam results recorded on a permanent database under a government scheme. | Every 14-year-old in England will have their personal details and exam results recorded on a permanent database under a government scheme. |
| Employers will be able to check exam results and other information on a tamper-proof "online CV". | Employers will be able to check exam results and other information on a tamper-proof "online CV". |
| Every child will also be issued with a lifelong Unique Learner Number. | Every child will also be issued with a lifelong Unique Learner Number. |
| They will be able to correct factual errors in data held - but critics say it could lead to school records being used against pupils in later life. | They will be able to correct factual errors in data held - but critics say it could lead to school records being used against pupils in later life. |
| Exclusions and expulsions are reportedly to be recorded on the database, although these will not be made available to potential employers. | |
| There are also concerns the system will be used as a step towards introducing identity cards, although this is denied by officials. | |
| Pupils in English schools already have a learner number but it is currently destroyed when they leave school. | Pupils in English schools already have a learner number but it is currently destroyed when they leave school. |
| Exam results | Exam results |
| Under the Managing Information Across Partners (MIAP) system - to be launched on Thursday by higher education minister Bill Rammell - the number will stay with them until they retire. | Under the Managing Information Across Partners (MIAP) system - to be launched on Thursday by higher education minister Bill Rammell - the number will stay with them until they retire. |
| It is meant to allow students to build up a lifelong record of educational participation. It will also allow employers to check the qualifications of people applying for jobs. | |
| People will be able to look up their exam results and other personal details online by entering their unique learner number. | |
| They will be able to correct any factual errors, provided they can prove their identity, but they will not be able to delete records. | They will be able to correct any factual errors, provided they can prove their identity, but they will not be able to delete records. |
| They can then give another password to potential employers to allow them to access their exam results - although MIAP says this view "will only display successful achievements". | |
| "It is just a way of making life easier for learners and employers. It is something we think will help people looking for work," a spokesman for Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills said. | |
| He also dismissed security concerns, saying the system was "cast-iron in terms of integrity". | |
| ID card fears | |
| But Conservative education spokesman Michael Gove told The Times: "The government has a terrible track record in managing complex IT programmes. | |
| "Recent events have shown that sensitive personal data in ministers' hands. | |
| "There must be profound worries, not just in terms of civil liberties, but also in terms of the security of young people." | |
| Anti-ID campaigners are also concerned the MIAP scheme could be a way of introducing identity cards through the back door. | |
| Phil Booth, of the NO2ID campaign, said: "The ID programme is looking shaky, now another dodgy database emerges. | Phil Booth, of the NO2ID campaign, said: "The ID programme is looking shaky, now another dodgy database emerges. |
| "The unique numbering of people for life is dangerously close to the core of the National Identity Scheme. | "The unique numbering of people for life is dangerously close to the core of the National Identity Scheme. |
| "It means every mistake you make as a child will follow you for life through an official government-assigned number." | "It means every mistake you make as a child will follow you for life through an official government-assigned number." |
| 'Privacy' threat | |
| Last year, the government put another planned database of children, ContactPoint, on hold pending a security review and changes to the system including its access controls. | Last year, the government put another planned database of children, ContactPoint, on hold pending a security review and changes to the system including its access controls. |
| ContactPoint is designed for use by child protection agencies. | ContactPoint is designed for use by child protection agencies. |
| It holds name, address, date of birth, gender, parental contact information, details of school and any professionals working with the child. | It holds name, address, date of birth, gender, parental contact information, details of school and any professionals working with the child. |
| The review was ordered after the loss by HM Revenue and Customs of two discs containing the personal and bank details of 25 million people. | |
| In a separate development, the Conservatives have released research on 13 new powers it says are being sought by the government to gain entry to people's homes. | |
| A Tory spokesman said the powers - which includes the right of officials to break into cars if they suspect the owner is evading road pricing laws - "make a mockery of Gordon Brown's pledge to curtail the threat to liberty and privacy". |