Why aren't schools adopting open source?

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:25 am

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, or if you have to be a member of CNET to read this article.

If the link doesn't work for non-members I guess one of the mods had better take the appropriate action. I could coy and paste the article if Buck or one of the SMs gives me permission.

Anyway, on the assumption you folks can read the article, what do you think?

Although it was written in reference to the USA it holds true for this country (UK) too. From what I can gather the only tools allowed effectively are MS although some more enlightened places are utilizing Linux, they still mostly us some version of Windows.

MS Office is also the only office sweet that features in most schools too. To me this patently idiotic, Open Office can do everything that MS Office can do that matters a damn, and it's free.

Why are government organisations (it's not just schools) getting away with wasting taxpayers money, and why aren't the taxpayers being galvanised into opposing it?

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:43 am

I can read the article fine, and I don't have a CNET account.

I agree, it's a problem in Canada too.
I suspect that in part it has to do with purchase agreements, MS is notorious for shackling people to their products.
I also think, though, that it's sheer stupidity, lack of tech awareness and the comfort of habit.

I am by no means whatsoever a techie, but I am very aware of all kinds of quality free software and open source software. When I talk to most of my friends, they look at me as though I have my head screwed on backwards when I discuss Open Office or any number of other applications.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:55 am

Part of the hook Microsoft have into the system her was simple, um, can't say corruption as I can't afford the law suit. Let's just say Bill Gates getting very friendly with our last Prime Minister, and our present one seems to have given Microsoft a big edge in securing government contracts in the UK.

MS aren't the only ones mind. There's a company called Capita (most of us spell it with an extra R) that seem to have a strange ability to win national and local government IT contracts. They are always way over budget, never complete on time, and their software never runs properly, yet they keep on winning contracts. The fact that the company has, shall we say, strong links to national and local government is of course just coincidence.

Sain · Post by **Sain** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:35 pm

Hmm, I was doing an e-school this year(At least I think I was, e-school is home-schooling over the internet, right?) and I submitted an open-office power-point with no issue. Open-office>>>Microsoft

Fiberfar · Post by **Fiberfar** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 5:09 am

No problem reading it, but I couldn't access the comments.

It's stupidity at a high level. Never understood why the schools in Norway have outdated softwares or OS.