Notice of Indirect Collection of Personal Information

Information Sources

The Ministry of Education (the ministry) collects and analyzes information relating to Ontario's elementary and secondary school systems. The ministry collects and analyzes information from:

• publicly funded elementary and secondary schools, school boards and authorities;
• private elementary and secondary schools that have notified the ministry of their intention to operate; and
• other ministries, agencies, institutions or entities as required, including:
• Education Quality and Accountability Office;
• Ontario Universities' Application Centre; and
• Ontario College Application Service.

This information is provided to the ministry by organizations instead of directly from individuals and as such is called an 'indirect collection of information.'

Schools, school boards and school authorities directly collect student and teacher information for their own purposes and are the official sources of such information.

Ministry of Education Collects Limited Personal Information

The ministry collects this limited information at predetermined points in time during the school year. The information collected will be specific to the ministry's needs and if it relates to individual students or teachers, it is considered to be personal information.

Use of Information Collected by the Ministry of Education

In order to achieve improved outcomes for students, it is important that education policies, programs and practices are based on evidence. As such, it is necessary for the ministry to collect, analyse and report on information from schools, school boards and other organizations.

Personal information about students and teachers can be collected and used by the ministry for the following purposes which are found in the Education Act:

• administering the Education Act and associated regulations, and implementing the policies and guidelines made under the Education Act;
• ensuring compliance with the Education Act, the regulations, and the policies and guidelines made under the Education Act;
• planning and delivering programs or services that the ministry provides or funds, in whole or in part, which includes the following activities:
• allocating resources to any of the programs or services,
• evaluating or monitoring any of the programs or services,
• detecting, monitoring and preventing fraud or any unauthorized receipt of services or benefits related to any of the programs or services;
• risk management, error management or activities to improve or maintain the quality of the programs or services that the ministry provides or funds, in whole or in part; and
• research and statistical activities that relate to education and are conducted by or on behalf of the ministry.

The ministry does not collect or use personal information if other information will serve the intended purpose.

Legal Basis to Collect Information

The ministry has the authority to collect personal information, directly or indirectly, under section 8.1(1) of the Education Act R.S.O 1990 Chapter E.2.

Privacy & Security

With regard to the personal information it collects, the ministry is bound by privacy protection rules under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and takes all necessary steps to safeguard personal information collected.

For more detail regarding the collection of personal data by the ministry please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions.

For further information, please contact:

Manager – Collections Unit
Ministry of Education
777 Bay Street, 4th Floor, Suite 422
Toronto ON M5G 2E5
Phone: 416-325-9122
Fax: 416-325-2361