ISTANBUL

France's Education Ministry announced Tuesday a data breach affecting 243,000 staff, including identity details and contact information.

"Initial investigations indicate that a volume of data concerning approximately 243,000 staff members, both trainees and permanent employees, was exfiltrated," the ministry said in a statement.

It noted that the data includes identity details, contact information, periods of absence, as well as the identity and professional phone numbers of tutors.

"The Operational Center for Information Systems Security of the ministry was alerted to the unauthorized dissemination of data from the COMPAS information system, which is dedicated to managing trainees in primary and secondary education," the statement stressed.

The breach is believed to have occurred on March 15, it added.

"Upon detecting the incident, a crisis unit was activated. External access to the affected system has been suspended, and checks are underway across all ministry information systems to prevent any risk of further spread," the ministry noted.

It also reaffirmed that the individuals concerned will be informed as soon as possible.