[DS-discuss] The real roadblocks to [GNU]Linux in education

[Frederick Noronha (FN)]

http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/0,2000061733,39191668,00.htm

The real roadblocks to Linux in education
By Con Zymaris, Special to ZDNet
13 May 2005
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In this issue of Industry Insider, Con Zymaris, our guest columnist from 
Open Source Industry Australia, describes the major barriers for Linux in 
the education system.

commentary Linux and open source software have a problem in Australia's 
education sector.

And that problem has nothing to do with the value-for-money or 
fitness--for-purpose of the software. It has everything to do with 
fighting an uphill battle against entrenched ideology and frightened 
government bureaucrats.

A recent report published by the UK government shows how adopting Linux 
and other open-source solutions could save education possibly tens of 
millions of pounds every year.

The UK government's ICT agency, British Educational Communications and 
Technology Association, suggested that schools could slash their total 
computer costs by up to 50 percent if they "stopped buying, operating and 
supporting products from the world's largest software company". Incredible 
and sobering information.

But what does this mean in the Australian context? Will we see Australia's 
state departments of education suddenly jump at the chance to save 
hundreds of millions in computer system costs?

Not likely. But why? The answers lie in intimidation and trepidation. In 
simple terns, fear and lack of vision.

Here's how it works. Most government primary and secondary schools don't 
care about saving costs by using cheaper alternatives. You see, they 
effectively pay nothing for their proprietary software -- the schools' 
owners, the respective Departments of Education do. And the mandarins 
therein don't like anything that rocks the boat, and are thus greatly 
threatened by Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). Nothing rocks an ICT 
boat like FOSS does.

Which is why you find that in almost all circumstances, the Departments of 
Education in each state are also the most pro-Microsoft. I've been trying 
for over two years to make headway with some of them. They tell me that 
they are scared of doing anything which will upset Microsoft.

Yes ... you read that right. The representatives of our elected government 
are scared of displeasing a vendor!

 If these departments suddenly stopped paying for proprietary software and 
switched to FOSS, the schools know they won't reap any of the purported 
savings. So, why would schools bother with trialling FOSS? Where's the 
incentive?

Additionally, teachers also know that they will need to learn a whole swag 
of new software, with minimal time and support. Teachers' time and stress 
levels are at a premium already. Without support from the powers that be, 
this makes migration away from "the world's largest software company" a 
hard and thankless task.

The upshot of all this is that every report commending the advantages of 
FOSS for the education sector falls on deaf, disinterested and frightened 
ears. This means that unless there is action from the absolute top, there 
will never be any action. Period.

This is why organisations like Open Source Industry Australia and Linux 
Australia are talking to [or trying to, at least] each state's Minister of 
Education, as well as their opposite numbers.

We want the incredible waste of money to be stopped right at the top. And 
if those discussions don't succeed, then it's time for the talk shows and 
mainstream newspapers.

I'm sure average Australians would love to learn how Linux and open source 
can save them -- as taxpayers -- hundreds of millions in software costs 
... money which can be spent on something useful for a change. Our 
schools, teachers and students deserve as much.

biography
Con Zymaris is a Director of Open Source Industry Australia.

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Frederick (FN) Noronha | Freelance Journalist | Mobile +91 9822 122436
Tel +91.832.2409490    | http://fn.swiki.net  | http://www.bytesforall.net
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