We received a petition asking:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to introduce legislation to require all UK schools to remove Wi-Fi installations and replace them with wired alternatives.”
Details of Petition:
“Wi-Fi is an untested and under-regulated technology. Sir William Stewart called for government and regulators to apply the precautionary principle and to review the use of Wi-Fi in schools. The German government is advising its citizens to limit their exposure to Wi-Fi. It is time to stop putting corporate profit over the health of UK citizens - especially the youngest who are most likely to feel the adverse effects of Wi-Fi and are least able to defend themselves.”
· Read the petition
· Petitions homepage
Read the Government’s response
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is the authoritative body on health issues relating to wireless technology. The HPA has consistently and clearly advised schools that it does not consider there to be any problem with the safety of WiFi. Its current guidelines state there is no scientific evidence of any health risks from WiFi or that exposures exceed international guidelines and there is absolutely no reason schools should stop using them.
It is for schools using their professional judgement to determine how best to deploy the available technology and in light of the current evidence we don’t believe we should discourage the use of wireless networks. Wireless networks in schools can directly support the use of ICT by raising standards in provision and supporting attainment. They are a perfectly acceptable choice for schools who rightly equip teachers and pupils in a way that best suits their needs.
The HPA made the following statement:
http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1195733779274
There is no consistent evidence to date that WiFi and WLANs adversely affect the health of the general population. The signals are very low power, typically 0.1 watt (100 milliwatts) in both the computer and the router (access point) and the results so far show exposures are well within internationally accepted (ICNIRP) guidelines. Based on current knowledge and experience, radio frequency (RF) exposures from WiFi are likely to be lower than those from mobile phones. Also, the frequencies used in WiFi are broadly the same as those from traditional RF applications.
On the basis of the studies so far carried out in house, the Agency sees no reason why WiFi should not continue to be used in schools. However with any new technology it is a sensible precautionary approach, as happened with mobile phones, to keep the situation under ongoing review so that parents and others can have as much reassurance as possible. That is why our Chairman, Sir William Stewart, has stated it would be timely to carry out further studies as this new technology is rolled out. The Health Protection Agency is discussing this with relevant parties.
In the light of the precautionary approach recommended in the above, the HPA announced further research into the use of WiFi in October 2007, details at:
http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1195733726123?p=1171991026241
Becta is the Government Agency with responsibility for providing advice to schools and others on various technologies and their use, including their safe use. Becta follows the HPA’s latest guidance in the advice it produces for schools and other education providers. Becta’s current guidance on the use of WiFi equipment in schools is that it provides a useful and flexible option to complement rather than replace hard wired systems.
Becta’s advice will be reviewed and updated accordingly as and when new guidance is published by the HPA on this matter. Becta have engaged with the HPA on elements of the research programme and will monitor closely any emerging findings to ensure that children are offered the best education in a safe and secure environment.
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