Cyprus schools launch student questionnaire amidst privacy concerns

The Cypriot Ministry of Education has distributed a new questionnaire to schools, requiring students to provide detailed personal and family information. This data, which is to be collected and submitted to counseling teachers, reportedly includes sensitive information such as details regarding divorce status and psychiatric history. The initiative has faced immediate scrutiny, particularly because some of this information is already stored in the ministry's electronic registration system, known as eDEA.

Critics are raising significant concerns regarding the necessity of collecting this data twice and, more importantly, the long-term protection of these records. Questions remain as to how the educational authorities intend to store these sensitive documents and what protocols are in place to ensure their eventual destruction, given the highly private nature of the disclosures requested from the students and their families. The circular mandating these forms explicitly states that both personal and family data are required, sparking an ongoing debate about the adequacy of data security measures within the school system.