Fragile Technology

Crashed computer system leads to incorrect reports for school students

Students in Western Australia could be receiving incorrect marks and comments on their school reports because of a failed computer system. The report template system has crashed at a number of schools, leading teachers to worry that hundreds of their students will not have correct reports for the end of the year.

Computer reporting error for WA schoolkids

"The deputy director-general of finance and administration, Peter McCaffery, played down the situation, saying a ``very small number'' of schools had reported a problem with the school report template."

But teachers disagree, saying the problem could be more widespread.

"But teachers said so many children were involved they were not confident all mistakes would be picked up. They also expressed concern about Year 11 reports that had already been processed before it was realised there was a problem."

6,000 Michigan teacher fingerprints and background checks go missing

A laptop containing personal details of 6,000 teachers, including fingerprints and background checks, has been stolen in Michigan.

"The laptop is one of three belonging to the Genesee Intermediate School District laptops that was used to transmit fingerprints to the Michigan State Police for state-required background checks of teachers, bus drivers and other school workers. It also holds separate files that include their names, addresses, birthdates and race.

The laptop did not have Social Security numbers and the data was stored in files that require a password to be opened, said Thomas Svitkovich, GISD superintendent."

Stolen GISD laptop included fingerprints of 6,000 Genesee County teachers, school workers

But why the delay reporting the theft? According to the above news report from The Flint Journal, the laptop was reported stolen on November 3, but it could have been taken as early as September 4.

Identify theft assistance has been offered to 35 people who had more detailed information held on the laptop.

Svitkovich falls for the trap, he's quoted "This has never occurred before and will never occur again". Um, yup, until the next time. A piece of advice for Mr Svitkovich, never promise what you cannot guarantee.

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Valuable pupils’ data lost as laptop is stolen

"PERSONAL information of more than 7,800 school children in Surrey and their parents or carers has gone missing after a laptop containing the files was stolen from a car. The data, which includes names, addresses and contact details of children using the school transport service was provided to Surrey County Council’s software contractor Trapeze."

Farnham Herald

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