Privacy body sets distance learning guidelines
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is working closely with various universities and colleges to draw up a code of conduct that will cultivate privacy consciousness as it is set to implement distance learning upon opening of classes in August.
Privacy commissioner Raymund Liboro said the code of conduct aims to guide and enable school managers, teachers, students and parents to create a data privacy-conscious environment, especially now that most activities are done online amid the quarantine.
“The planned code of conduct will set standard policies and measures to prevent data breaches and for schools to be able to act accordingly in such (breach) occurrences,” Liboro said during a meeting with over 40 data privacy officers from various schools across the country on Friday.
“Setting clear-cut guidelines is crucial today as the pandemic has compelled most
businesses to migrate online. As this is uncharted territory for many, including the education sector, intensified guidance and awareness on data privacy and security practices must be provided to all,” he said.
At the meeting, the NPC gathered a handful of volunteerpartners to work on the guidelines. Among them were data protection officers of Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Iloilo, Batangas State University, Central Mindanao University, De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, De La Salle University, Laguna State Polytechnic University and Lyceum of the Philippines University.
Also volunteering were Manila Central University, San Beda College-Alabang, San Beda University, Technological University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas Legazpi, University of the Philippines Cebu, UP Diliman, UP Manila and University of Perpetual Help System DALTA.
The commission said it welcomes more volunteers to complete the code of conduct before the opening of schoolyear 2021-2022.
In light of the recent wave of breaches at universities and colleges, the NPC reported that the education sector’s January to June breach notifications surged to 19, already exceeding 2019’s 18 notifications and even likely to grow for the rest of the year.
“We see this trend in the education system to continue as we migrate our processes online,” said Khane Raza, NPC’s data security and compliance officer-in-charge.
Not ready for class opening
Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo reiterated her appeal to the Department of Education (DepEd) not to insist on the Aug. 24 opening of classes if not all schools and teachers in the country are prepared for its distance learning scheme amid the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Aug. 24 opening is OK because it is stated under the law, and if all schools and teachers are ready by then,” Robredo said over dzXL.
– With Helen Flores, Paolo Romero, Delon Porcalla