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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Anger over pupils database plan | Anger over pupils database plan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government is being urged to scrap a database of all pupils' school records amid data security fears. | The government is being urged to scrap a database of all pupils' school records amid data security fears. |
| Every 14-year-old in England will have their exam results and personal details held on a central database. | Every 14-year-old in England will have their exam results and personal details held on a central database. |
| They will each be given a lifelong "learner number" - and employers will be able to check their exam results on a tamper-proof "online CV". | They will each be given a lifelong "learner number" - and employers will be able to check their exam results on a tamper-proof "online CV". |
| Officials insist the system is secure but critics say the government can not be trusted with personal data. | Officials insist the system is secure but critics say the government can not be trusted with personal data. |
| There is also concern the system, which is expected to go online next September, could lead to school records being used against pupils in later life. | |
| Officials denied reports that exclusions and expulsions are reportedly to be recorded on the database. | |
| The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) insisted it was not a "tracking system" and would only use existing information that had already been collected "several times over". | |
| "It will only hold factual information such as name, surname, age, postcode, qualifications achieved and courses attended," added the LSC spokesman. | |
| 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 just a way of making life easier for learners and employers Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills | It is just a way of making life easier for learners and employers Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills |
| 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | "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". | He also dismissed security concerns, saying the system was "cast-iron in terms of integrity". |
| But data security watchdog the Information Commissioner said no database could be totally secure. | |
| A spokesman said: "We have provided advice and assistance to help ensure that this system is watertight and secure - but no system is immune to human error and breaches can and do occur. | |
| "What is important is that there is an ongoing and very close monitoring of this system to ensure there is no breach of the Data Protection Act." | |
| Parents 'smarting' | Parents 'smarting' |
| Conservative education spokesman Michael Gove told The Times: "The government has a terrible track record in managing complex IT programmes. | |
| The ID programme is looking shaky, now another dodgy database emerges Phil BoothNO2ID campaign | The ID programme is looking shaky, now another dodgy database emerges Phil BoothNO2ID campaign |
| "Recent events have shown that sensitive personal data in ministers' hands. | "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." | "There must be profound worries, not just in terms of civil liberties, but also in terms of the security of young people." |
| Margaret Morrissey, of the National Confederation of Parent Teachers Associations, said parents were still "smarting" from the recent loss of child benefit data discs - and although a good idea in theory, the MIAP database raised serious security concerns. | Margaret Morrissey, of the National Confederation of Parent Teachers Associations, said parents were still "smarting" from the recent loss of child benefit data discs - and although a good idea in theory, the MIAP database raised serious security concerns. |
| "They are not in a position at the moment to launch something that would store yet another massive amount of information about us," she told BBC News. | "They are not in a position at the moment to launch something that would store yet another massive amount of information about us," she told BBC News. |
| "I think we have got to take a step back. When I typed MIAP into my computer it came up with Mongolian airlines, and I think Outer Mongolia is probably the best place for this scheme at the moment." | "I think we have got to take a step back. When I typed MIAP into my computer it came up with Mongolian airlines, and I think Outer Mongolia is probably the best place for this scheme at the moment." |
| ID card fears | ID card fears |
| Anti-ID campaigners are also concerned the MIAP scheme could be a way of introducing identity cards through the back door, although this is denied by officials. | |
| 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 | '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. | 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. | 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". | 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". |