Wi-Fi in French Schools - The Law

[dpskinner]

Morning all,

 

Are there any French network admins who could help me with some information? I have received the following email from our headmaster:

I am concerned about wi-fi transmission and EMF emissions across our site.

 

A number of countries have banned/ dramatically reduced the use of wi-fi in primary settings for health reasons. I’d like to look at this issue more closely.

 

https://www.emfhome.com/news/wifi-health-school

 

What I would like to know is... have all French schools removed AP's, or have they just banned students from sing Wi-Fi? What is the reality of the ban?

 

Any information would be gratefully received

[ICTDirect_Dave]

I would be fully suspicious of any website that rails against something on one tab and then offers spurious yet expensive 'cures/fixes' on the next.

[dpskinner]

Oh I completely agree...but, how do you tell a flat earther that the world is round?

[ICTDirect_Dave]

I'd say.....

 

 

Ahh you have my sympathies!

[elsiegee40]

If I remember rightly, when this was announced, wifi was banned where there were children aged under 6.

 

And when it comes to what has actually happened... a big gallic shrug. Probably ignored unless the unions think they have leverage with it

[elsiegee40]

My googling suggest the law came into place in 2015. Have you found this about wifi in 2019? No idea if it’s accurate. It would seem that wifi takeup in primary and secondary education is about the same which would also suggest that the law may have been ignored!

 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1028288/wifi-schools-france/

[elsiegee40]

Also my research on other countries is bringing up only anti wifi sites. Australia is cited as banning wifi in schools for example, but what comes up when you google it is only parents protesting about wifi in schools.

[psydii]

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wireless-networks-wi-fi-radio-waves-and-health/wi-fi-radio-waves-and-health

 

"On the basis of current scientific information, exposures from wi-fi equipment satisfy international guidelines. There is no consistent evidence of health effects from RF exposures below guideline levels and no reason why schools and others should not use wi-fi equipment."

[CHiLL]

If something like that were real, there would be an official statement from France's educational body or some other official office/authority.

[HPlum78]

I had a meeting about this in ~2013 as a couple of interested parties involved in the schools where i worked has an intolerance to EMF and where driving around in old Land Rovers as they had little electronics in them, I was given a report that the Scandinavian countries had put together and there was some interesting stuff in that ~500 page document. I think that in Sweden if you live near high voltage over head power cables you can get them rerouted/ live near phone base stations (or at least make a case for them to be!). It is something that is getting more and more traction in recent years, would be an interesting line to take considering the cost that telcos pay for the spectrum space "oh we have sold you that space but don't go filling that space up around where people live (or kids go!) Edited August 18, 2020 by HPlum78

[elsiegee40]

Further digging, which has tested my French for search terms, suggests that wifi is not permitted with children aged under three, ie nurseries.

 

In primary schools it should be disabled when not in use for educational activities.

 

@dpskinner I suggest your establishment gets legal advice. Surely the French teachers unions would know the score? Failing that a lawyer would confirm the absolute position.

 

I think your Head has been reading to many of the wrong articles! It is really hard to find anything other than the tinfoil hat brigade concerning any country including France. I think the legal requirements are being made out to be bigger than they are by those opposed to wifi.

Edited August 18, 2020 by elsiegee40