The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) is to review the value of Microsoft software in the education sector and consider the viability of open source alternatives.

The review will cover the range, scope and cost of existing Microsoft licences in the education market, and examine other possible licensing models.

Becta’s chief executive Owen Lynch says it is important that schools and colleges have access to products that represent good value for money.

‘In areas where a single supplier is dominant, particular vigilance is necessary to guarantee that this happens and that schools do not find themselves inadvertently locked into a particular supplier,’ he said.

An interim report will be ready by June. It will look at whether ‘free’ alternatives to Microsoft products present better value.

David Burrows, the director of education at Microsoft UK, says the company will cooperate fully with Becta on the review.

‘Microsoft is confident that our products continue to deliver value for money and meet educational needs.

‘The licensing options offered to education customers were designed after close consultation with schools, colleges and universities,’ said Burrows.

Ovum analyst John O’Brien says Microsoft is the main provider of desktop software for UK education, but it is facing increasing competition from open source systems.

‘Microsoft needs to be more flexible in the way it works with its software licensing models. The way Becta is pushing this, it is going to be imperative for Microsoft to open up,’ he said.

But O’Brien says it is unlikely the review will herald an imminent move to open source in the UK education sector.

‘Local education authorities are looking at this with interest, but they will want to have a very clear idea of the total cost of ownership issues. They will want to know whether it is genuinely in their interests to invest in open source,’ he said.

‘I don’t think there is any push towards one operating system or another at the moment.’