Safety of wi-fi networks at schools under the spotlight

CONCERNS have been expressed about the safety of wireless broadband networks in hundreds of schools following an investigation by BBC’s Panorama team.

About one in 10 of the country’s 3,300 primary schools uses wireless systems to link computers to their broadband service, which has been provided to most schools in the country in the past few years.

The programme found that the peak signal radiation from a wireless enabled laptop computer in a school is more than three times that of a mobile phone mast. The chairman of Britain’s Health Protection Agency, Sir William Stewart who previously headed the country’s review of phone mast safety, has called for a review of wi-fi technology.

Irish National Teachers’ Organisation general secretary John Carr said the Government must set up an independent review of wireless computer network safety in schools.

“Schools will soon be making strategic decisions about networking and they need the best possible advice to enable them to consider if they should be installing wi-fi networks,” he said.

“This is an issue of child safety, there are real fears that children are more affected by this type of radiation than adults. Where there is doubt, a precautionary approach should be adopted,” Mr Carr said.

The National Parents’ Council (Primary) backed the call for a safety review.

“We would expect all schools to be always safe and if there’s any doubt at all, I would expect it to be investigated,” said spokesman Philip Mudge.

The National Council for Technology in Education, the Department of Education agency responsible for providing broadband access and hardware in schools, said just over 1% of primary schools have internal wireless networks, but that they are encouraged for other reasons to install fixed wire cabling.

“There must always be caution around safety for children. World Health Organisation guidelines and other reports tell us the radiation from a wireless laptop is 600 times less than from mobile phones, but we will keep a close eye on any emerging research,” said council director Jerome Morrissey.