GIODO protects the privacy of preschoolers’ families

Collection of personal data from documents such as PIT (tax declaration), RMUA (monthly report for social insurance) or court orders during enrolment to nursery schools is against the law – alerted GIODO.

Wojciech Rafał Wiewiórowski PhD, the Inspector General for Personal Data Protection (GIODO) spoke about it during a press conference held in Warsaw on 25 August 2010.

Dealing with enrolment procedures at nursery schools was prompted, among other things, by complaints from parents alarmed by the scope of data collected during enrolment received by GIODO.

Broadening the list of criteria leads to excessive intrusion into the privacy of the family, burdens the parents with additional information obligation and forces them to present to commune officials or to nursery schools copies of documents which – according to the parents – contain data which the commune does not need for the enrolment procedures – GIODO said.

He also underlined that such actions of communes are not malicious – they are caused by the need to distribute places in public nursery schools in a rational manner, ensuring that the children to be enrolled first are the ones that need it the most, e.g. children from families suffering from social or economic hardship. – Unfortunately, in this case the road to hell is paved with good intentions – he added.

According to GIODO, regulations need to be changed so that the enrolment procedures do not breach the legal provisions in force – from the constitutional right to privacy to the Act on the Protection of Personal Data. He added that it is a good moment to make the necessary changes so that the enrolment to nursery schools next year is conducted in a legitimate manner. He also declared that next year the enrolment procedures will be closely watched by the GIODO bureau and in cases of evident breaches, GIODO shall take appropriate action.