"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to congratulate the Open
University and other schools, colleges, local authorities and universities
for utilising free and open source software to deliver cost-effective
educational benefit not just for their own institutions but also the wider
community; and to express concern that Becta and the Department for
Education and Skills, through the use of outdated purchasing frameworks, are
effectively denying schools the option of benefiting from both free and open
source software and the value and experience small and medium ICT companies
could bring to the schools market."
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/schoolsoftware/
Related:
Open Source Consortium sends Becta back to school
,----[ Quote ]
| The OSC claims that, despite overwhelming evidence that open source
| software saves schools money and enhances learning, Becta is taking
| no practical steps to help schools adopt open source... "This is the
| perfect opportunity for Becta to reject accusations that it is in bed
| with big suppliers by offering serious support to Linux and open
| source..."
`----
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2172733/open-source-consortium-sends
Becta pays lip-service to Open Source
,----[ Quote ]
| 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."
`----
http://sourcewire.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=29102&hilite=
Becta's schools software scheme reported to EC
,----[ Quote ]
| An advisor to Becta, the education technology quango, has complained
| to the European Commission about its procurement process for firms
| to provide online learning platforms and content to British schools.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/08/becta_ec_complaint/
OSC joins criticism of UK education's attitude to open source
,----[ Quote ]
| Open Source Consortium president, Mark Taylor, has been in contact to
| voice its opinion on the controversy surrounding Becta's purchasing
| frameworks and the adoption of open source adoption in UK schools.
|
| In short, it doesn't make happy reading for Becta. "The essence of
| our concern is that they're saying one thing and actually pursuing
| policies that are exclusive," he said. "Becta's own research shows there
| are major benefits [with open source], however the reality of the
| framework is that it excludes both products and services."
`----
http://www.businessreviewonline.com/os/archives/2006/11/osc_joins_criti.html
UK Government criticised for stifling open source in schools
,----[ Quote ]
| MP Pugh reckons shcools should support independent or open source
| software firms. He says, "In my experience a school is a key part
| of the community and as such has a role to play in the economy of
| that community. By supporting SMEs the local high-technology
| industry will be encouraged which will benefit everyone."
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36464
Becta under fire for procurement framework
,----[ Quote ]
| Nineteen MPs have accused a government agency of restricting the
| procurement of software in schools.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/29/becta_procurement_criticised/
MPs criticise government roadblocks to Open Source adoption in schools
,----[ Quote ]
| The UK Government's own studies have shown savings of up to 60% can be
| made by schools and colleges using Open Source software. Despite this
| clear advantage, some MPs believe the software procurement frameworks
| from Becta and official advice from DfES effectively locks out the us
| of free, Open Source software.
`----
http://opensourceblog.itproportal.com/?p=220
|
|
