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The UK's Open Source trade body today issued a challenge to the government's schools ICT quango to turn their promotion of Open Source software into action. Despite overwhelming evidence that Open Source software saves schools money and enhances learning, the Open Source Consortium states that Becta is taking no practical steps to help schools to adopt Open Source.
In their recent analysis of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007, Becta called on the ICT industry to ensure that computers for the education marketplace are delivered with a choice of Office productivity suites, ideally including an Open Source offering. Yet schools are unable to purchase any Open Source office suites through Becta's own procurement frameworks.
Latest European Commission research concludes that EU governments should "avoid lifelong vendor lock-in in educational systems by teaching students skills, not specific applications; encourage participation in FLOSS-like communities."
Mark Taylor, President, Open Source Consortium said: "There is increasing EU support for Open Source in education. This is the perfect opportunity for Becta to reject accusations that they're in bed with big suppliers by offering serious support to Linux and Open Source software as valid alternatives. Their own evidence says it will save schools money, so let's see them provide at least equal opportunities for schools to buy Open Source software, through their e-Learning Credits and the new Learning Platform Framework Agreements."
Notes to the Editor
The Open Source Consortium is the trade body representing UK Open Source services companies www.opensourceconsortium.org.
Becta is the body charged with advising schools on ICT and reports to the DfES. See: www.becta.org.uk.
Becta's concerns on Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 are at on their website at news.becta.org.uk and schools.becta.org.uk.
The EU report on Free and Open Source Software can be found at the Europa website.
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