Enterprise open source Toolkit

Story: MPs: Open source faces exclusion in schools

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OpenSourse does not always mean Linux

Why do we seem to be hung up on OpenSource equating to Linux, this is not the case, most of the OpenSource applications run quite happily on non Linux desktops and servers.

Can we also have a little bit of reality in respect of the skills of teachers in deploying and supporting non-windows platforms, as a parent I would rather my Childs teachers were concentrating on teaching rather than getting involved in trying to support many different platforms so as to service an anti-Microsoft crusade (lets forget the euphemistic "Proprietary Software" flag that this is usually disguised as) and as most IT taught in schools is vocational in nature the teaching should be focused on the platform deployed in business which is still Microsoft. (I also believe that the actual Exams are specifically focused on Microsoft platforms either explicitly or implicitly which means that deploying and teaching OpenSource applications would not enable the students to pass there exams). Teaching OpenSource IT in schools would be like teaching feet and inches rather than metric, totally valid to teach, but useless in the real world.

School level IT is not (unfortunately) the same, or even preparation for, the IT that is taught in Further Education, the premise for this article shows that our leaders have no concept of this.

Keeping the religious theme I think this whole article sound very similar to the debate currently in full swing about the teaching of alternate theories to Darwin.

A little bit of research would have told our MP’s that:-

• The Becta framework has just been renewed, therefore it is not an “Old” framework
• HE and FE also purchase most product through Framework Agreements
• Framework agreements are only required to be used if the purchase price of the solution is in excess of 130Kish
• OpenSource applications can run on Microsoft and Apple server and desktop platforms and often do.
• No Tier 1 vendors yet ship PC’s pre-installed with Linux clients making the installation of Linux on desktops VERY labour intensive, not something that most schools can tolerate or afford.
• It is EC rules that push the public sector into Framework agreements, which by there very process will always prohibit smaller companies from participating. And as most frameworks are only renewed on 3 or 4 year cycles they will always prohibit new, startup or emerging companies from participation, whether the sell Open-Source or not.

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