Education Minister Evarist Bartolo has suspended the implementation of a controversial legal notice regarding privacy until a working group that has been set up draws up a report on the situation.

The legal notice empowers the minister and ‘unspecified’ authorities to request information of children attending education institutions from childcare to University, related to their abilities or identity card number. The LN states that if a school representative fails to provide such information, he or she may face criminal charges.

A statement issued by the government last night said that when Legal Notice 76 was passed Minister Bartolo had declared that he would be discussing the issue with the Commissioner of Data Protection “to put everyone’s mind at rest” that he did not want to breach data protection laws.

As soon as Saviour Cachia had been appointed Data Protection Commissioner, the minister had sought his advice. As a result of this, the commissioner set up a working group involving all stakeholders including Church and independent schools, MCAST, ITS, University and the Directorate of Educational Services.

In light of this, the minister expressed his confidence in the working group and has suspended the implementation of the legal notice until the working group completes it mission.