[Fsf-friends] IT@School - food for thought

[Mahesh T. Pai]

Missed out this one till late in the day.

Refer to today's (17 July, 2003) Mathrubhumi, (pg 11 in Cochin
edition).

Here is a summarized  rough translation for non-malayalees:-

IT project: Antony respects suggestion by VS, Soopy opposes.

By B. Rameshkumar

Education minister expressed dissatisfaction  over action taken by the
chief minister in postponing meeting  on the ground that the objections
raised by the leader of  opposition are very serious. The minister had
to meet the  leader of opposition at his  official residence to comply
with the chief minister's directions

These incidents  relate to the  IT@SCHOOL project. The  law department
also has raised certain objections. 

The  general council of  the project  was scheduled  to meet  on 11th.
Apart from the Chief Minister, secretaries and ministers of education,
industry,  IT,  finance,  and  local administration  arrived  for  the
meet.  The leader  of opposition  gave a  detailed note  to  the Chief
Minister 2 hours  before the meet pointing out  that there are serious
traps in the memoranda of understanding proposed to be signed. 

The CM arrived at the meet  with this note. The CM directed that there
points  raised in  the note  are serious,  and the  education minister
should discuss the  issue with him (leader of  the opposition). He did
not take up the agenda. 

Minister Soopy  stated that it  is not proper  to postpone it  in this
manner. However, the CM stood his ground that the minister discuss the
issue with  leader of opposition.  In the meanwhile, the  IT secretary
pointed out  that the  concerned file has  not reached  (her). Certain
quarters advised the  education minister that he need  not go and meet
the leader of opposition. But, Soopy agreed to honour the promise made
to the general council by the  CM. He talked with Achutanandan for one
hour on Tuesday night. 


He (VS Achutanandan)  stood firm on the doubts  and concerns raised by
him. One of allegations raised by Achutanandan relate to the 'project
siksha' of Microsoft  which is part of the  IT@SCHOOL.  The project is
worth 10 crore  rupees. It was made clear in the  agenda note given to
the general body that an IT academy will be set up in 3000 Square feet
space  and  and teachers  will  be  trained  (here) to  use  Microsoft
products.  However,  the leader of  opposition pointed out that  it is
made  clear in  the  agenda note  that  the 3000  sq.   ft.  space  in
Technopark,  Thiruvananthapuram,  which  would  fetch rent  of  Rupees
6,84,000 is to be handed over to Microsoft for mere one rupee. He also
stated that due to the training, the teachers will be able to use only
Microsoft's products. 

He also questioned the direction issued to the DPI (Director of public
Instruction)  to issue  orders  to the  schools  informing them  (to?)
purchase (of?)  necessary software. Achutanandan also  demanded in his
note  to the  CM  to  drop the  move  to hand  over  execution of  the
IT@SCHOOL project to a private concern for next 30 years. 

At the same  time, authorities of IT@SCHOOL informed  that there is no
block to use  of 'swatantra' software in the  project. But the problem
is that there would be  no training support available. They also point
out that the  government has directed that there shall  not be any new
appointments for the training. 


(Note:- The words in brackets are added by me, to make the context clear).