Beginning from next term, all computers at schools in the Swiss canton of Geneva will be switched to Ubuntu Linux only.
Geneva newspaper Tribune de Geneve reports today that from September 2008 all computers at schools that currently are dual-boot MS Windows and Linux will have MS Windows removed and become FOSS (Free Open Source Software) only.
Besides lower costs for the administration, students will also profit from the use of Ubuntu, as they then will be able to use the same applications at home without additional cost.
Manuel Grandjean, director for the schools (Ecoles-Médias) IT services pointed out that the use of FOSS “…encourages participation and the democratization of knowledge and provides product independent competences…“. He also sees the use of FOSS as a “reinforcement of equal opportunities” for students.
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That’s nice! A couple of years back, the Indian state of Kerala too had taken the initiative to promote the widespread use of Red Hat OS and free and open-source software in education, without making it compulsory.
still now its is successful movement named IT@School. The IT @ School Project, launched four years ago, has remodeled convectional teaching methodologies in classrooms through use of Information Technology. The project, in its first stage, is being implemented in 2,738 High Schools in the Kerala, Mahe in Pondicherry, Lakshwadeep and the Gulf. Over 40,000 teachers were given 90 hours of training on IT skills. Computer labs with 10 to 60 computers are available in all High Schools. IT@School project had developed its own OS in Linux in association with Free Software foundation namely IT@School Linux The platform of IT education completely shifted from WINDOWS to non proprietary software – Linux.
Lucky – “without making it compulsory”
It is not correct. Check these links:
1. http://www.financialexpress.com/old/latest_full_story.php?content_id=138497
2. http://www.indianexpress.com/story/280323.html
3. http://www.abhishekkant.net/2006/09/technology-myopia-in-kerala.html