Mirjam Reinthal, legal advisor at the Ministry of Education and Research, told ERR that checks for working with children are important. Their purpose is to protect children and ensure that people with restrictions don't work with children.
EHIS checks based on criminal records data whether a teacher or other education worker has restrictions. The check is automatic every 10 days and when a worker is added to EHIS.
If restrictions exist, the educational institution, school owner and ministry's supervision department are notified. The school must ensure the person no longer works with children.
In addition to automatic checks, schools can check restrictions manually. Reinthal said automatic checks ensure quick application of restrictions. However, not all restrictions are lifetime and may disappear after serving the penalty.
In 2016, a law came into effect regulating more precisely who cannot work with children. The goal of automating checks was to make law compliance easier for schools and reduce administrative work.
The regulation came into effect at the end of 2016. Schools and school owners were informed. Checks have found 14 cases where there were restrictions against working with minors.
Teachers, school leaders, support specialists and others working with children are checked. Reinthal said schools should inform teachers about this.
The user manual states checks occur every 10 days. The manual is intended for school EHIS administrators. Reinthal emphasized checks are not hidden and are stipulated in legal acts.
She also said schools should better explain how checks work so teachers can know.