22 May 2008
Officially sanctioned open source and free-to-use software could be in use across the UK education system within months after government education agency Becta issued a tender for a four-year framework agreement.
Becta is looking for up to 10 software suppliers to participate in the £80m framework that will launch in October. This will replace its software licensing framework, in place since April 2005.
The contract notice says: “We are particularly seeking suppliers which can provide a comprehensive choice of software solutions including appropriate open source and free-to-use alternatives and advise users on best-value licensing.”
Solutions should be cost-effective, but provide freedom of choice, said a Becta spokeswoman.
“We’re providing guidance on the educational elements and looking for suppliers that can provide comprehensive choice,” she said.
Ian Lynch, a member of the Open Schools Alliance, said: “Canonical with Ubuntu, perhaps Mandriva, Sun Microsystems or Novell/Suse might bid, as all have integrated open source software solutions that could satisfy the framework requirements.
“Too many people are listening to ‘experts’ with a vested interest in a particular commercial software model. It’s not just the operating system, it’s OpenOffice and all the supporting applications. All you pay for is genuine support and even a lot of that is free through the community groups. The emperor has no clothes, it’s as simple as that and Becta now realises it.”
Sean Doherty, a consultant and school governor, said: “If they’re looking at open source, how are they going to guarantee upgrades? That’s been their argument against it in the past,” he said.
Framework bidders should offer commercial off-the-shelf software and licences, and not aim to supply software such as national curriculum content or learning environments that are specifically designed to deliver the curriculum in education.
Microsoft, which last week extended its licensing deal with Becta, declined to comment.
All this free stuff is great, but who pays the developers for heating, lighting, food and a roof over their heads.
I don't condone how much the likes of Microsoft charge for their software, but they do have a sustainable business model and like it or not they have been a stable company for many years. My biggest worry with open source is how the developers earn a living.
All that said, I think the diversity of talent in the open-source community is a great and wonderful thing, and long may it continue.
Posted by: Michael Butterworth 15 Aug 2008
Quote "It's a shame to see yet another initiative that will result in millions of pounds being spent on equipment and software that will be consigned to the technicians' cupboards when the teachers and governors (rightly or wrongly) decide not to teach children using minority software platforms."
The underlying operating system and software packages used to teach children IT skills are irrelevant. What matters is to teach them the principles of using and operating computer software, rather than teaching them how to use a specific software package by rote, which unfortunately seems to be the case in many of our schools.
Furthermore, I would strongly dispute the assertion the Linux is a minority operating system. That might be the case in UK schools, but is not the case elsewhere. I was recently corresponding with a Polish gentleman who is working here on the same subject, he was surprised at how many schools in the UK were using Microsoft products, apparently most Polish schools use Linux. it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case elsewhere in Eastern Europe.
Posted by: Tim Williams 09 Jun 2008
Ian Lynch says "Too many people are listening to "experts" with a vested interest in a particular commercial software model." Isn't he a paid spokesman for open source?!
It's a shame to see yet another initiative that will result in millions of pounds being spent on equipment and software that will be consigned to the technicians' cupboards when the teachers and governors (rightly or wrongly) decide not to teach children using minority software platforms.
Posted by: Ross 27 May 2008
One of the best advantages of linux distribution is that you are entitled to a life long upgrade. That includes your notepad, your Office software, your browser AND the operating system plus any piece of software you install with the tool provided by the Linux Distribution
This even after you stop paying the company for the deployment service
Posted by: davidt 26 May 2008
Ubuntu has been a name that has risen to the fore of Linux distributions over the past few years, it also has an education arm of Edubuntu which sits on top of an of an Ubuntu install. As commented earlier, upgrades are free and support for Long Term Support (LTS) version releases are available well past the release of the subsequent free LTS version release. Also in built is LTSP (Linux Terminal Server Project) where a whole host of machines that would be retired can get further service as fully up to date machines running from one high powered server. This reduces running and environmental costs further.
Place on top of this that open source software is totally free to the public, so pupils do not need to buy software that they are using in school, it could be loaded directly via Add/remove software program.
My concerns would be that an Education specific distro would be made out of a consortium of companies. I do not feel that reinventing a wheel would be necessary when the product is already there.
The opportunity here should be seized and developed for the betterment of all.
Posted by: ukubuntu 25 May 2008
Companies like Canonical provide online upgrades entirely free of charge for not only the operating system but also all the supporting applications. If a proprietary vendor ceases to support a product you have much greater risk of a dead end. If Canonical fail to provide the support you can go to Mandriva, Suse, Red Hat or a number of other vendors. There is proper competition in that market.
Posted by: Ian Lynch 23 May 2008
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