The Department of Education and Children's ICT chief says a new database on the Isle of Man's 12,000-plus children will help ensure scarce resources are used where they are needed most.
Graham Kinrade is assuring the public the data will be held securely, and its collection is both legal and has the blessing of the Island's Data Protection Supervisor.
Critics say issues affecting children are best dealt with by individual schools, and have questioned the need to collect large quantities of data at a central point.
But Mr Kinrade says only by analysing Island-wide issues can the department do the best for pupils and schools:
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