Analysis of youngsters' performance stymied

Education officials say they cannot analyse differences in boys' and girls' achievement at Island schools, because they've been denied access to the data. 

A centralised pupil database was switched off in October last year when it emerged the Department of Education and Children (DEC) was operating it unlawfully.

The controversial system collects a wide range of information on youngsters from schools across the Island.

But a Tynwald committee ordered the plug to be pulled, amid concerns the department was not entitled to hold the data. 

The DEC is awaiting Tywnald approval of regulations to bring the system within the law.

Andrew Shipley is head of legal and administrative services for the department.

He says the loss of the database means certain aspects of children's performance - such as the gender gap - can't be analysed: