Schools building in biometric systems under BSF

With the governments Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme one biometric company is partnering up with the large PFI contract holders/bidders to build in biometric systems in schools that are either being renovated or new build schools.

Consultation with learning authorities and local councils should be required with written consent obtained from all parents, before the biometrics are built into these schools as standard.

"The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) and Academies program requires ICT solutions providers to bid for all the ICT systems in a single bid. In order for the OnRecord range of products to be made available to the BSF and Academies projects, Gladstone Education have developed close partnerships with some of the leading educational ICT suppliers within the UK."

A biometric developer that piononeered the vein scanner in a scottish primary school, currently has a 15 year management contract with an academy in Middlesbough.

"Fujitsu is providing a managed service under a fifteen-year contract that specifies key performance indicators and service level agreements."

If you are concerned about the use of biometric systems in schools then contact your local council for their reassurance that this technology will not be used without full consultation and consent from parents.

It is worth checking the companies that get awarded the contracts for the schools in your area as they are independant parties that will have access to your children's data.

This from the General Manager of Fujitsu Europe Limited.

"Biometric solutions will increasingly allow us to move towards a cashless society"

So no ulterior motive for this company then to get'em whilst they're young...

Building Schools for the Future - BSF.

The Government has a spending plan of £2.2 billion over 2005/6 to provide new and improved schools. The aim is to rebuild or renew every secondary school in England. Local Educational Authorities or Learning Authorities (LA's) are working with large companies to deliver the BSF programme.

ICT is an integral part of these schools, delivering learning, internet access, school management, reporting, etc...

Current BSF projects are incorporating biometrics in with this ICT for the usual canteen, library and registration processes.

Whilst I welcome to use of technology in schools in the aproppiate setting, having different systems with different forms of biometric data on e.g. fingerprint, iris scanning, palmprint, is a responsibility the school must take very seriously. Ensuring alternative technology for those children who not wish to participate with their biometrics must be incorporatedso no discrimination happens.

I know you cannot un-invent a technology, but it does seem that our children are the target population of introducing the notion of biometric exchange for access/information. There are serious concerns over adult biometric ID cards, given the Governments disastrous track record of database security and control so what assurances can we have that these schools systems are secure?

But as one of the most surveilled nations in the world I am at a loss as to why we are doing this to the next generation without X-file type conspiracy theories popping in my head!

Just nice to know we're not alone now - the USA is rolling out biometric technology in schools all over the country, with a few exceptions of some states - see my previous blog October 26th.