David Small writes:
I received a phone call this week from a colleague at another university asking me to pass on information about somebody who had previously studied with me. Unpersuaded by reassurances that it would help the student to receive the best education at the new university, I refused and suggested the caller ask the student to request the information directly from me.
I didn’t really receive that call. And with people’s familiarity with the basics of the Privacy Act, I doubt I ever would. I use it to illustrate my objection to a practice that is routine in New Zealand schools, the transfer of student information from one school to another without the knowledge or consent of the students or their parents. It is done in the name of facilitating smooth transitions between schools.
Read more on the New Zealand Herald.