Gonna make myself unpopular here. I think fingerprinting is a great idea, it should be compulsory. Firstly the school want the fingerprints as kids would forget cards/money etc. They cannot forget their fingers. Also, if they did something criminally wrong in the future then their fingerprints are on record, surely a deterrent?
the problem is that is not why they are doing it. here is the govt reply to my anonymous email:
'Dear Sir/Madam
Thank you for your email of 11 September concerning the fingerprinting of schoolchildren for use in computerised library systems, security scanners and other functions.
I should explain that Schools and Local Authorities (LA) are responsible for deciding their own policies relating to information about children which they wish to hold and use, subject to the relevant legislation on Data Protection and Freedom of Information. It is for each school to decide whether or not to collect pupils’ biometric data. In collecting data of this type the school will rely on the broad powers contained in paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 of the Education Act 2002. This enables a governing body to do anything which appears to them to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of, or in connection with, the conduct of the school.
It will be for the school to establish that it – and its contractors - are acting lawfully in collecting data and is, on a case-by-case basis, compliant with Human Rights and Data Protection duties and the common law of confidentiality. Schools should seek legal advice from their local authority where necessary. Additionally, the government agency for ICT in Education, the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA), have published guidance for schools in 2004 on their obligations and responsibilities under the Data Protection Act and other related legislation.
The Information Commissioner is aware of the concerns people, especially parents, have over the widespread use of biometrics, especially fingerprints, and I understand that this is something the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) plans to look into over the coming months.
Yours sincerely
Leona Smith
Public Communications Unit '
that says to me it's up to the school if they want to do it , now if it becomes law then schools Have to do it therefore I was lied to in the above statement ;-(